Rosy Minor
Common NameRosy Minor
Scientific NameMesoligia literosa
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)25
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, reddish-brown, pink
HabitatGrasslands, heathland, gardens, open woodlands
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia
Host Plantsgrasses
Flight PeriodJuly to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThis species is univoltine, producing one generation per year. The larvae feed internally on the roots and lower stems of various grasses, pupating underground. It typically overwinters as an egg or a young larva.
Identification TipsKey features include its small size, the mottled appearance of the forewings with a variable rosy or reddish-brown flush, and the clearly defined, often dark-outlined, kidney-shaped (reniform) stigma. The hindwings are uniformly pale greyish-brown.
Description
A small, cryptically colored moth with mottled forewings displaying shades of brown, grey, and reddish-brown, often with a subtle rosy flush. It features distinct dark transverse lines and a prominent kidney-shaped stigma.
