Orange Swift
Common NameOrange Swift
Scientific NameTriodia sylvina
FamilyHepialidae
SubfamilyHepialinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsorange-brown, pale brown, white
HabitatGrasslands, heaths, open woodlands, gardens, damp areas
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia
Host PlantsRumex spp. (docks), Plantago spp. (plantains), various grasses
Flight PeriodJuly to September
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on the ground. Larvae are subterranean, feeding on the roots of various herbaceous plants for two years before pupating in the soil.
Identification TipsKey features include the orange-brown coloration, the prominent pale diagonal stripe on the forewings, and the males' characteristic swift, darting flight at dusk.
Description
A medium-sized moth with orange-brown forewings featuring a prominent, often silvery-white, diagonal stripe running from the costa to the tornus, and mottled with darker brown markings.
