Phytometra laevis
Common NamePhytometra laevis
Scientific NamePhytometra laevis
FamilyErebidae
SubfamilyScoliopteryginae
Wingspan (mm)22.5
Primary Colorslight brown, ochre, dark brown
HabitatGrassy areas, meadows, open woodlands, heathlands
Geographic RangeSouthern Europe (e.g., Iberian Peninsula, Italy), North Africa
Host PlantsPolygala, Genista
Flight PeriodApril to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis. Larvae are likely green or brownish, feeding on host plants, and pupate in a cocoon, often on or near the ground.
Identification TipsKey features include its small size, the distinctive ochre ground color with diffuse dark brown mottling on the forewings, and its triangular resting posture. Differentiation from similar small Erebidae moths may require examination of subtle pattern variations.
Description
A small moth with light brown to ochre forewings heavily mottled and speckled with diffuse darker brown markings, giving it a somewhat cryptic appearance. Its hindwings are typically plainer and darker.
