Dusted Rustic
Common NameDusted Rustic
Scientific NameCaradrina aspersa
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)28
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, white
HabitatGrasslands, open woodlands, heathland, gardens
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia (Palaearctic)
Host PlantsPlantago, Taraxacum, Polygonum aviculare, various grasses
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are polyphagous, feeding on low-growing herbaceous plants and grasses. They typically overwinter as larvae or pupae, pupating in the soil.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its overall dusty, mottled brown-grey appearance with indistinct markings. Careful examination of subtle wing patterns is often needed to differentiate it from similar *Caradrina* species.
Description
A small, cryptically colored moth with dusty brown-grey forewings mottled with darker speckles and indistinct markings, and paler hindwings.
