Wingspan 35-40 mm. It has a distinctive unbroken metallic silver 'Y' mark on the brown and grey marbled forewing, which sometimes has a purple tinge.

Found in various habitats.

The adults can be found from spring through till late autumn, and can be seen by day as well as at night, when they regularly visit light.

The larvae feed on a wide range of low plants such as Nettles.

A well-known immigrant species, this moth can turn up in thousands under the right conditions, especially at coastal migration watch-points. It can occur anywhere in Britain, and in autumn, the breeding population from spring migrants is swelled by further migration. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as a migrant.

Common in Leicestershire & Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = A (common and resident)