Brindled Tortrix
Common NameBrindled Tortrix
Scientific NameAphelia paleana
FamilyTortricidae
SubfamilyTortricinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Primary Colorsorange-brown, dark brown, silvery-grey
HabitatMeadows, grasslands, heathland, open woodlands, gardens
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia (e.g., Siberia, Mongolia, China, Japan)
Host PlantsPlantago, Trifolium, Lotus, Taraxacum, Rumex, Vaccinium, Calluna, Salix
Flight PeriodJune to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are polyphagous, feeding on various low-growing plants and shrubs, often rolling or tying leaves together. Pupation occurs in a cocoon among the host plant.
Identification TipsLook for the combination of the ochre/orange-brown ground color, dark brown markings, and the distinct silvery-grey oblique band across the forewing. The metallic sheen on the head and thorax is also characteristic.
Description
A small moth with ochre to orange-brown forewings, marked with darker brown patches and distinctive silvery-grey or metallic bands and streaks, including a prominent oblique band.
