Tawny Pinion
Common NameTawny Pinion
Scientific NameLithophane semibrunnea
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)41
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, black, bluish-green
HabitatDeciduous woodlands, forests, parks, gardens
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, Asia Minor
Host Plantsoak, elm, hawthorn, sallow
Flight PeriodSeptember to November, then March to May (after overwintering)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in spring, larvae feed through summer on deciduous trees, pupation occurs in the soil, and adults emerge in autumn, overwintering before laying eggs the following spring.
Identification TipsKey features include its excellent bark-like camouflage, the tawny-brown forewings with darker longitudinal streaks, and the distinctive raised tufts on the thorax and forewings, which often show a metallic blue-green tint.
Description
A medium-sized moth with a highly cryptic, bark-like pattern of tawny brown and grey forewings, featuring dark streaks and prominent raised tufts on the thorax, often with a metallic bluish-green sheen.
