The Handmaid
Common NameThe Handmaid
Scientific NameDysauxes ancilla
FamilyErebidae
SubfamilyArctiinae
Wingspan (mm)30
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, orange, white
HabitatDry grasslands, open woodlands, heathlands, rocky slopes
Geographic RangeCentral and Southern Europe, North Africa, parts of Asia Minor
Host PlantsPlantago, Taraxacum, Hieracium
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are hairy and polyphagous, feeding on various low-growing herbaceous plants. They typically overwinter as larvae before pupating in a cocoon.
Identification TipsLook for the combination of brown wings with distinct pale spots and the bright orange-yellow head and abdomen. It is often active during the day (diurnal).
Description
A small to medium-sized moth characterized by its velvety brown forewings marked with several pale, whitish spots, and a striking orange-yellow head, thorax, and abdomen.
