Plain Conch
Common NamePlain Conch
Scientific NameIdaea rusticata
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilySterrhinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorscream, light brown, grey, dark brown
HabitatDry grasslands, heathland, open woodlands, gardens, waste ground
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia, introduced to North America
Host Plantsdandelion, knotgrass, chickweed, various herbaceous plants
Flight PeriodMay to September (often bivoltine)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are slender, twig-like loopers typical of Geometridae, feeding on low-growing plants. They overwinter as larvae and pupate in a cocoon near the ground.
Identification TipsLook for its small size, the overall 'plain' and mottled cream/brown/grey coloration of the forewings, and the distinctive furry head with prominent palps that give it a snout-like appearance.
Description
A small, cryptically colored moth with mottled cream, light brown, and grey forewings, a furry head, and prominent, forward-projecting palps.
