The adults of these 3 species can be virtually impossible to identify if not bred from a known foodplant, in fact they have previously been regarded as foodplant forms of the same species. Y.malinellus and Y.cagnagella always have pure white forewings but although almost all Y.padella show some degree of grey shading they do very occasionally appear pure white. The identification centres on size, the colour of the underside of the terminal cilia and the number of antennal segments. If there is any doubt they should be recorded as Yponomeuta padella/malinellus/cagnagella.