Smoky Knot-horn
Common NameSmoky Knot-horn
Scientific NameSciota fumella
FamilyPyralidae
SubfamilyPhycitinae
Wingspan (mm)23
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgrey, brown, ochre
HabitatConiferous forests, woodlands, heathlands, gardens
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia
Host PlantsPinus sylvestris, Pinus, Picea
Flight PeriodMay to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on the needles and shoots of pine trees, often spinning them together. Pupation occurs in a cocoon, typically in the soil or leaf litter.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its relatively plain grey-brown forewings with a subtle ochreous basal patch and a faint, often broken, pale transverse line. The overall shape and size are characteristic of the Phycitinae subfamily.
Description
A small moth with elongated, narrow forewings that are predominantly greyish-brown, featuring a subtle lighter ochreous-brown patch near the base and a faint, irregular pale transverse line.
