Rannoch Sprawler
Common NameRannoch Sprawler
Scientific NameBrachionycha nubeculosa
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)53
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgrey, black, white
HabitatBirch and aspen woodlands, often in damp areas
Geographic RangeNorthern and Central Europe, across the Palearctic to Siberia and Japan
Host Plantsbirch, aspen, willow, alder, oak
Flight PeriodMarch to April
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUnivoltine, eggs are laid in spring, larvae feed through summer, and pupation occurs in the soil where it overwinters as a pupa.
Identification TipsKey features include its distinctive mottled grey and black forewing pattern with jagged outer margins, a stout hairy body, and its characteristic early spring flight period.
Description
A robust, medium-sized moth with cryptically patterned forewings of mottled grey, black, and white, resembling lichen or bark. Its body is stout and hairy, blending well with tree trunks or dead leaves.
