Brown-spot Pinion
Common NameBrown-spot Pinion
Scientific NameAgrochola litura
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyHadeninae
Wingspan (mm)35
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, reddish-brown
HabitatWoodlands, hedgerows, gardens, parks
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host Plantsoak, willow, hawthorn, sallow, dock, plantain
Flight PeriodAugust to November
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in autumn and overwinter, hatching in spring. Larvae feed from spring to early summer, then pupate in the soil. Adults emerge in late summer and fly into autumn.
Identification TipsLook for the mottled brown/grey forewings with a reddish flush, the distinct dark-outlined reniform (kidney) and orbicular spots, and a pale, often wavy, subterminal line. Hindwings are plain greyish-brown.
Description
A medium-sized moth with mottled brown and grey forewings, often with a reddish-brown tint, featuring prominent dark-outlined kidney and orbicular spots.
