Glaucous Arches
Common NameGlaucous Arches
Scientific NameEpisema glaucina
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgrey, brown, white
HabitatDry grasslands, rocky slopes, garrigue, open woodlands
Geographic RangeSouthern Europe (Iberian Peninsula, France, Italy, Balkans), North Africa, parts of the Middle East
Host PlantsAsphodelus spp.
Flight PeriodSeptember to November
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe species overwinters as an egg. Larvae hatch in spring and feed on host plants, pupating in the soil during summer. Adults emerge in autumn.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive mottled grey-brown forewings with prominent dark, often kidney-shaped (reniform) and circular (orbicular) markings, and a wavy subterminal line. The robust, hairy body and autumn flight period are also key indicators.
Description
A medium-sized, robust moth with cryptically patterned forewings in shades of mottled grey and brown, featuring prominent dark stigmata and a wavy subterminal line. The hindwings are paler and less marked.
