Red-headed Chestnut
Common NameRed-headed Chestnut
Scientific NameConistra erythrocephala
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)41
Primary Colorsreddish-brown, brown, pale yellow
HabitatDeciduous woodlands, parks, gardens, hedgerows
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia Minor
Host Plantsoak, elm, sallow, hawthorn, beech, hornbeam
Flight PeriodOctober to April (overwinters as adult)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on deciduous tree leaves in spring, pupate in the soil, and adults emerge in autumn to overwinter, mating and laying eggs in early spring.
Identification TipsLook for the reddish head and thorax contrasting with the browner forewings, and the two pale, often indistinct, stigmata on the forewings. The overall reddish-brown coloration is also a key feature.
Description
A medium-sized moth with rich reddish-brown forewings, often with a purplish sheen, and a distinctively red head and thorax. The forewings feature subtle pale orbicular and reniform stigmata and a wavy subterminal line.
