Mistletoe Moth
Common NameMistletoe Moth
Scientific NameEuplagia quadripunctaria
FamilyErebidae
SubfamilyArctiinae
Wingspan (mm)55
Primary Colorsblack, cream, red-orange
HabitatOpen woodlands, scrubland, coastal areas, gardens, river valleys
Geographic RangeSouthern and Central Europe, Western Asia, North Africa
Host PlantsUrtica dioica, Borago officinalis, Symphytum officinale, Eupatorium cannabinum, Rubus fruticosus, Lonicera, Plantago
Flight PeriodJuly to September
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesOverwinters as a small larva, feeding in spring. Pupation occurs in early summer, with adults emerging in mid-summer.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive black and creamy-yellow striped forewings and the bright red-orange hindwings with black spots, especially when disturbed or in flight. It is a diurnal moth.
Description
A striking day-flying moth with black forewings marked with bold, wavy creamy-yellow stripes. Its hindwings are bright red-orange with four prominent black spots.
