Mesotype didymata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Description: Wingspan 24-32mm. Adult forewings generally pale or dark grey, which often look mottled in appearance. There are two distinctive dark spots near the apex and costal edge of the forewing.

Key Identification Features:

• Mottled appearance
• Two dark spots near apex of forewings

Sets:

Flight Period: Mid-June to the beginning of September.

Status: Common and widespread throughout southern and eastern counties. Apparently scarce in Tyrone and Londonderry although this may be due to under-recording.

Ecology: A species normally associated with lowland bogs, heaths and moorland. Adults come frequently to light in moderate numbers and are occasionally found by day resting on rocks and the trunks of trees. The larvae can be found in April and May on Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus, willowherb Epilobium spp. and Sea Campion Silene uniflora. It overwinters as an egg.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 1809 Agassiz number: 70.131

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: