Naenia typica (Linnaeus, 1758)

Description: Wingspan 36-46 mm. Females larger than males. Forewings are dark brown with pale whitish brown veining and crosslines and poorly-defined stigmata. Hindwings fuscous with darker veining. There is a fine dark line at the outer margin of the hindwing.

Key Identification Features:

• Pale whitish brown veining
• Dark hindwings with small fine black line along the outer edge

Sets:

Flight Period: End of June to late August.

Status: Donovan (1936) described this species as being common in suitable localities throughout Ireland, a statement that Baynes disputed, based on a lack of information and records. In N. Ireland it has been recorded from all counties. However the vast majority of recent records refer to Down, where it has been taken regularly in a variety of habitats including suburban gardens

Ecology: A species that favours wet damp marshy areas, including weedy areas and riverbanks. Adults come to light very sparingly, but visit flowers especially privet Ligustrum spp. They rest during the day concealed among vegetation and occasionally in old buildings. The larvae feed from August to March on willowherb Epilobium spp., dock Rumex spp. and willow Salix spp. It overwinters as a larva.

World Distribution: Throughout western Europe from Finland to Spain.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 2136 Agassiz number: 73.368

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: