Marbled Minor
Common NameMarbled Minor
Scientific NameOligia strigilis
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)25
Primary Colorsdark grey, brown, white, reddish-brown
HabitatWoodlands, hedgerows, gardens, rough grassland
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, temperate Asia
Host PlantsPoa, Festuca, Dactylis, Lolium
Flight PeriodLate May to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are subterranean, feeding on the roots and lower stems of various grasses, overwintering as larvae before pupating in the soil in spring.
Identification TipsKey features include the dark ground color with a distinct, often jagged, white subterminal band and a pale-outlined reniform stigma. Can be distinguished from similar *Oligia* species by the clarity and shape of this band.
Description
A small moth with dark grey-brown forewings, often with a reddish tinge, characterized by a prominent and irregular white or pale subterminal band.
