Lychnis
Common NameLychnis
Scientific NameHadena bicruris
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyHadeninae
Wingspan (mm)35
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, black, white
HabitatGardens, hedgerows, woodland edges, waste ground, meadows
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host PlantsLychnis flos-cuculi, Silene dioica, Silene latifolia
Flight PeriodMay to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on the seeds and developing capsules of various Lychnis and Silene species. Pupation occurs in the soil.
Identification TipsKey features include the mottled brown and grey forewing pattern, the wavy dark and pale transverse lines, and the distinct, often pale-outlined reniform stigma.
Description
A medium-sized moth with cryptically patterned forewings, featuring mottled shades of brown and grey, distinct wavy transverse lines, and prominent kidney-shaped stigmata.
