Dark Chestnut
Common NameDark Chestnut
Scientific NameConistra vaccinii
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)34
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey
HabitatWoodlands, hedgerows, gardens, heathland
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host Plantsoak, birch, willow, sallow, hawthorn, blackthorn, bilberry
Flight PeriodSeptember to November (overwinters) and February to April
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed in spring and early summer on various deciduous trees and shrubs, then pupate in the soil. Adults emerge in autumn, overwinter, and lay eggs in spring.
Identification TipsKey features include its robust body, the specific flight period (late autumn and early spring), and the often reddish-brown or grey-brown forewings with subtle, indistinct markings.
Description
A medium-sized, robust moth with forewings typically dark reddish-brown to grey-brown, often with indistinct darker markings and a slightly scalloped outer margin.
