Tawny Marbled Minor
Common NameTawny Marbled Minor
Scientific NameOligia latruncula
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)25
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsdark brown, grey, tawny, ochre
HabitatGrasslands, meadows, open woodlands, fens, marshes, gardens
Geographic RangeWidespread across Europe, extending eastwards into Russia and parts of North Africa
Host PlantsPoa, Festuca, Dactylis
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed internally within the stems and roots of various grasses, overwintering as larvae and pupating in the soil during spring.
Identification TipsGenerally darker and more uniformly colored than the similar Marbled Minor (*Oligia strigilis*), often lacking the prominent pale subterminal line or clear reniform stigma, and typically has a more pointed forewing apex.
Description
A small, cryptically colored moth with forewings typically dark brown to blackish, often featuring tawny or ochreous marbling and indistinct markings, providing excellent camouflage.
