Blueberry Sallow
Common NameBlueberry Sallow
Scientific NameBrachylomia viminalis
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)32
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgrey, brown, white
HabitatWoodlands, heathlands, moorlands, fens
Geographic RangeEurope, including the UK, Fennoscandia, central Europe, and parts of Asia
Host PlantsSalix spp. (sallow/willow), Vaccinium myrtillus (blueberry), Myrica gale (bog-myrtle)
Flight PeriodLate June to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesOverwinters as an egg. Larvae hatch in spring and feed on the leaves of sallow, willow, or blueberry. Pupation occurs in a cocoon underground or among leaf litter, with one generation per year.
Identification TipsLook for the mottled grey and brown forewings with a prominent, jagged postmedian line and a darker central band. Its cryptic appearance helps it blend with tree bark or lichen.
Description
A medium-sized moth with forewings mottled in shades of grey, white, and dark brown, providing excellent camouflage against bark or lichen. It features a distinctive jagged postmedian line and a darker central band.
