Brindled Flat-body
Common NameBrindled Flat-body
Scientific NameAgonopterix arenella
FamilyDepressariidae
SubfamilyDepressariinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorspale yellow, brown, black
HabitatDry grasslands, heathland, open woodlands, gardens, waste ground
Geographic RangeEurope, Asia Minor, Central Asia, North Africa
Host PlantsCirsium, Centaurea, Arctium
Flight PeriodAugust to May (overwintering as adult)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed from May to July in spun leaves or flowerheads of host plants. Adults emerge in late summer, overwinter, and are active again in spring.
Identification TipsKey features include the pale ochreous-brown forewings with scattered dark speckles, two distinct black discal spots, and a characteristic flattened resting posture.
Description
A small, cryptically colored moth with pale yellowish-brown forewings heavily speckled with darker brown and black, featuring a few prominent black spots.
