Green-brindled Crescent
Common NameGreen-brindled Crescent
Scientific NameAllophyes oxyacanthae
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)42
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgreen, brown, white, black
HabitatWoodlands, hedgerows, gardens, scrubland
Geographic RangeEurope, extending into parts of Asia
Host PlantsHawthorn, Blackthorn, Rowan, Apple
Flight PeriodSeptember to November
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in autumn and hatch in spring. Larvae feed on host plants during spring and early summer, then pupate in the soil or leaf litter, with adults emerging in late autumn.
Identification TipsLook for the characteristic green and brown mottling, the prominent white crescent-shaped reniform stigma, and the white subterminal line on the forewings. The overall appearance mimics lichen-covered bark.
Description
A medium-sized moth with a highly cryptic pattern of mottled green, brown, and white, designed to camouflage it against tree bark or lichen. Its forewings feature prominent dark-ringed stigmata and a distinctive white crescent mark.
