Conistra vaccinii (Linnaeus, 1758)

Description: Wingspan 28-36 mm. Adults can be quite variable in colour and pattern. Forewing colour ranges from light to dark reddish brown. Antemedian and post median lines are usually quite distinct. The subterminal line is irregular and darker than ground colour. The stigmata are clearly defined in some forms, but obscure or reduced to a dark dot in others. Hindwings range from pale to dark fuscous brown.

Similar Species: Dark Chestnut C. ligula, which has the apex of the forewing more pointed.

Key Identification Features:

• Dark antemedian and post median crosslines
• Distinctive stigmata in some lighter colour forms
• Irregular subterminal line

Sets:

Flight Period: September through to mid-April.

Status: Widespread throughout all counties but more common in the east; despite being described by Baynes as abundant. It has however not ubiquitous and apparently absent from some well-trapped localities in each county.

Ecology: A common species found in a variety of habitats including woodland, bogs and heaths and suburban gardens. Adults appear at light in very small numbers and will also visit Ivy Hedera helix blossom and overripe berries. They will emerge during mild settled weather throughout the winter months. The larvae feed from May until June on oak Quercus spp., birch Betula spp. and elm Ulmus spp. It overwinters as an adult.

World Distribution: Throughout western Europe as far north as Scandinavia and Finland.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 2258 Agassiz number: 73.194

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: