Flounced Chestnut
Common NameFlounced Chestnut
Scientific NameAgrochola helvola
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyHadeninae
Wingspan (mm)35
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, orange, reddish-brown
HabitatDeciduous woodlands, parks, gardens, hedgerows
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host Plantsoak, sallow, birch, hawthorn, honeysuckle
Flight PeriodSeptember to November
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in autumn and overwinter, hatching in spring. Larvae feed on buds and leaves of host plants, pupating in the soil, with adults emerging in late summer to autumn.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its rich reddish-brown to orange-brown ground colour, the prominent pale-ringed stigmata (especially the kidney-shaped reniform), and the slightly scalloped appearance of the forewing's hind margin.
Description
A medium-sized moth with mottled reddish-brown to orange-brown forewings, featuring distinct pale-ringed reniform and orbicular stigmata and a wavy subterminal line. Its cryptic coloration provides excellent camouflage against dead leaves.
