The Uncertain
Common NameThe Uncertain
Scientific NameHoplodrina octogenaria
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)31
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, yellowish-brown, dark brown
HabitatWoodlands, gardens, hedgerows, open country
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host Plantsdandelion, plantain, dock, knotgrass
Flight PeriodMay to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are polyphagous, feeding on a variety of low-growing herbaceous plants. They typically overwinter as larvae and pupate in the soil during spring.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its yellowish-brown ground color, the distinct dark reniform and orbicular stigmata, and its characteristic resting posture on dead foliage, mimicking its surroundings.
Description
A small, cryptically patterned moth with yellowish-brown forewings marked with darker brown transverse lines and prominent stigmata, perfectly camouflaged against dead leaves.
