Male Gold Swift macro, Heeswijk, Netherlands

The Gold Swift is a species of moth belonging to the family Hepialidae. Until recently it was placed in the genus ''Hepialus''. It is a widespread species of Europe, its distribution following that of its foodplant, bracken.

This is a rather small moth for the family, with a wingspan of 26-32 mm. The male is distinctive, the brown forewings marked with two parallel bands of gold markings. The larger female is less striking with muted grey and brown markings. The adult is on the wing in.. more