Diarsia rubi (Vieweg, 1790)

Description: Wingspan 30-38 mm. Forewings variable in colour, ranging from light to dark reddish brown. Stigmata similar to the base colour with a fine paler outline. There is a conspicuous black square-shaped mark between both stigmata. Crosslines dark and evenly curved towards the costa. Hindwings are light greyish brown with a small discal spot.

Key Identification Features:

• Square-shaped mark on forewings
• Fine dark-coloured crosslines
• Lighter hindwings with a small discal spot

Sets:

Flight Period: Beginning of May to the end of September but adults are most abundant in June and July.

Status: Common and widespread throughout southern counties. More localised in Antrim and Londonderry where apparently confined to the coast. Also recorded from Rathlin Island.

Ecology: A common species associated with a variety of habitats. Adults come frequently to light and also visit flowers, especially Bramble Rubus fruticosus, Heather Calluna vulgaris and Ragwort Senecio jacobaea. The larvae feed from autumn to spring on a variety of plants including Heather, Dandelion Taraxacum officinale and various species of dock Rumex spp. It overwinters as a larva.

World Distribution: Widespread throughout western Europe.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 2123 Agassiz number: 73.334

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: