Clay Fan-foot
Common NameClay Fan-foot
Scientific NamePolymixis argillaceago
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)41.5
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsyellowish-tan, light brown, reddish-brown, black
HabitatDry, warm areas, rocky slopes, open woodlands, scrubland, garrigue
Geographic RangeSouthern Europe (Iberian Peninsula, France, Italy, Balkans), North Africa
Host PlantsGenista, Cytisus, Thymus, Lavandula, Teucrium, Satureja
Flight PeriodSeptember to November
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesOverwinters as eggs. Larvae hatch in spring, feeding on various herbaceous plants and shrubs, then pupate in the soil. Adults emerge in late autumn.
Identification TipsKey features include its late autumn flight period, the intricate mottled and wavy line pattern on the forewings, and the characteristic coloration, often with prominent black-outlined stigmata.
Description
This is a medium-sized moth with forewings featuring a complex, mottled pattern of yellowish-tan, light brown, and reddish-brown patches, marked by distinct black, wavy transverse lines. Its hindwings are typically paler.
