Olive Angle Shades
Common NameOlive Angle Shades
Scientific NamePhlogophora scita
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)44
Primary Colorsolive green, reddish-brown, dark brown
HabitatWoodlands, gardens, hedgerows, damp areas
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, temperate Asia
Host Plantsbramble, dock, nettle, willowherb, honeysuckle
Flight PeriodMay to July, August to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on host plants, hatching into green or brown larvae that feed on foliage. The caterpillars pupate in the soil, emerging as adults after a few weeks or overwintering as pupae.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive angular pattern of olive green and reddish-brown on the forewings, especially the prominent dark central markings and the deeply scalloped outer margin. Its characteristic tent-like resting posture also aids identification.
Description
The Olive Angle Shades moth displays intricately patterned forewings with a mosaic of olive green, reddish-brown, and dark brown, featuring sharp angles and lines that provide excellent camouflage against bark or dead leaves. Its hindwings are a plainer grey-brown.
