Rest Harrow
Common NameRest Harrow
Scientific NameAplasta ononaria
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilySterrhinae
Wingspan (mm)22.5
Primary Colorspale brown, reddish-brown
HabitatDry grasslands, chalk downlands, coastal areas, and open scrub where its host plants grow.
Geographic RangeWestern and Central Europe, extending to North Africa and parts of the Middle East.
Host PlantsOnonis spinosa, Ononis repens
Flight PeriodJune to August (sometimes a partial second brood in September)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae feed on the leaves of Rest Harrow plants (Ononis species). The species overwinters as a pupa, usually in the soil or leaf litter, with adults emerging in early summer.
Identification TipsKey identification features include its characteristic pale brown coloration with reddish-brown wavy bands across the forewings. Its presence is strongly associated with its host plant, Rest Harrow (Ononis species).
Description
A small, pale brown moth with a mottled appearance, featuring distinctive reddish-brown wavy cross-lines on its forewings, and typically rests with its wings spread flat.
