Tree-lichen Beauty - Cryphia algae

Wingspan 24 to 30 mm.

Although distinctive in appearance, photographic evidence is requested to support records for this species due to its rarity in Britain at present.

A migrant that is most likely to be recorded at light.

Most British records are during July and August.

In southern Europe larvae feed on lichens growing on trees.

A mostly migrant species with only a handful of records prior to 1991 and In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as a rare migrant, however it has since become quite frequent in the southern and south-eastern counties. More recently it has arrived in sufficient numbers to breed and possibly establish small resident populations in certain localities.

Formerly a rare migrant in Leicestershire and Rutland where it was first recorded in 2018, it now seems to be well established in our area with an increasing number of records.