Small Chocolate-tip
Common NameSmall Chocolate-tip
Scientific NameClostera pigra
FamilyNotodontidae
SubfamilyPhalerinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, dark brown
HabitatWetlands, fens, marshes, damp woodlands, riverbanks
Geographic RangeEurope, temperate Asia, North Africa
Host PlantsPopulus tremula, Salix caprea, Salix cinerea, Populus nigra
Flight PeriodMay to June, and July to August (two broods)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae feed on poplar and willow species, often found in damp habitats. They pupate in a cocoon spun among leaves or on the ground, with two generations typically occurring per year.
Identification TipsLook for its small size, the characteristic dark chocolate-brown tip on the forewings, and its habit of resting with wings folded in a tent-like fashion. The overall coloration is a cryptic mix of grey and brown.
Description
A small, stout-bodied moth with mottled grey-brown forewings, featuring a distinctive dark chocolate-brown patch at the apex of each forewing. It typically rests with its wings folded tent-like over its body.
