Tufted Button
Common NameTufted Button
Scientific NameDiurnea fagella
FamilyChimabachidae
Wingspan (mm)22
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, white, black
HabitatDeciduous woodlands, parks, gardens, hedgerows
Geographic RangeEurope, Western Palearctic
Host Plantsoak, beech, birch, hornbeam, hazel
Flight PeriodMarch to May
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed gregariously on leaves of various broad-leaved trees, spinning them together. Pupation occurs in a cocoon in the soil or leaf litter. It is univoltine.
Identification TipsKey features include its early spring flight period, bark-like cryptic coloration, and the prominent raised scale tufts on the forewings.
Description
A small, cryptically patterned moth with forewings mottled in shades of brown, grey, and white, featuring distinctive raised tufts of scales.
