Twin-dotted Owlet
Common NameTwin-dotted Owlet
Scientific NameMesoligia literosa
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorslight brown, grey-brown, dark brown
HabitatGrasslands, heathlands, open woodlands, gardens
Geographic RangeEurope, extending eastwards into parts of Asia
Host Plantsgrasses, plantain, dandelion
Flight PeriodJuly to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on various grasses and low-growing plants, overwintering as larvae. Pupation takes place in the soil.
Identification TipsKey features include the overall pale, speckled forewings with two small, dark stigmata (the 'twin dots') and its relatively small size for an owlet moth. Hindwings are plain greyish.
Description
A small, cryptically colored moth with mottled light brown to grey-brown forewings, featuring two small, dark, often indistinct spots and faint wavy cross-lines.
