Saddled Yellowhorn
Common NameSaddled Yellowhorn
Scientific NamePtilodon capucina
FamilyNotodontidae
SubfamilyPtilodoninae
Wingspan (mm)40
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgrey, brown, black, ochre
HabitatDeciduous woodlands, forests, parks, gardens, hedgerows
Geographic RangeEurope, temperate Asia
Host Plantsoak, birch, willow, aspen, lime, hazel, elm
Flight PeriodMay to June, July to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on host plant leaves. Larvae are green with yellow stripes and a reddish head, pupating in a cocoon in the soil or leaf litter.
Identification TipsLook for the prominent dark 'saddle' mark on the forewings, the raised tuft of scales on the thorax, and the pectinate antennae. Its cryptic coloration helps it blend with tree bark.
Description
A medium-sized, cryptically colored moth with mottled grey-brown forewings featuring a distinctive dark brown, saddle-shaped central band and a prominent raised tuft of scales on the thorax.
