Sombre Brocade
Common NameSombre Brocade
Scientific NameBlepharita adusta
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)43
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, black, whitish
HabitatWoodlands, heathland, moorland, gardens
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host Plantsheather, bilberry, sallow, dock, plantain
Flight PeriodMay to July
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUnivoltine, with eggs laid in late summer, overwintering as eggs. Larvae hatch in spring and feed on various herbaceous plants and shrubs before pupating in the soil.
Identification TipsLook for its distinctive mottled, bark-like forewings with prominent reniform and orbicular stigmata (kidney-shaped and circular spots) and a dark basal streak, which help it blend seamlessly with tree bark or dead leaves.
Description
A medium-sized moth with highly cryptic, mottled forewings resembling bark or lichen, typically in shades of brown, grey, and black, providing excellent camouflage.
