Agate Knot-horn
Common NameAgate Knot-horn
Scientific NamePhycita roborella
FamilyPyralidae
SubfamilyPhycitinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, white
HabitatWoodlands, parks, gardens, hedgerows
Geographic RangeEurope (widespread), parts of Asia
Host Plantsoak, beech, chestnut, birch, hazel
Flight PeriodJune to September
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on the leaves of host trees, often spinning them together. They overwinter as larvae and pupate in a cocoon in leaf litter or soil.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive pale, angled cross-band on the forewing, which is often edged with darker lines. The overall mottled brown and grey coloration and the dark discal spot are also key features.
Description
A small to medium-sized moth with mottled brown and grey forewings, characterized by a prominent pale, often whitish, diagonal band that divides the wing into darker basal and lighter outer sections. A dark discal spot is typically present.
