Barred Chestnut
Common NameBarred Chestnut
Scientific NameAgrochola lychnidis
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)38
Primary Colorsbrown, dark brown
HabitatWoodlands, hedgerows, gardens, scrubland
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host Plantshawthorn, blackthorn, sallow, oak, elm
Flight PeriodSeptember to November
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesOverwinters as an egg. Larvae hatch in spring and feed on various trees and shrubs, pupating in the soil in summer. Adults emerge in autumn.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its autumn flight period, the characteristic 'barred' pattern of dark cross-lines on the forewings, and often a reddish or greyish-brown ground colour. The stigmata are usually clearly defined.
Description
A medium-sized moth with reddish-brown to grey-brown forewings marked with distinct darker, often wavy, cross-bands and prominent stigmata.
