Selagia spadicella
Common NameSelagia spadicella
Scientific NameSelagia spadicella
FamilyPyralidae
SubfamilyPhycitinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, reddish-brown, grey
HabitatDry heathlands, sandy areas, open woodlands
Geographic RangeWestern and Central Europe, extending eastwards
Host PlantsCalluna vulgaris, Cytisus scoparius, Ulex species
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on various plants, particularly heather and broom, often overwintering as larvae. Pupation occurs in a cocoon, usually in the soil or leaf litter.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its relatively plain, mottled brown forewings with a somewhat pointed apex, and its typical resting posture with wings held close to the body. Definitive identification often requires examination of genitalia.
Description
A small, slender moth with forewings that are predominantly reddish-brown to dark brown, mottled with scattered whitish or silvery scales, and often featuring indistinct darker streaks. The hindwings are typically paler grey.
