Variable Narrow-wing
Common NameVariable Narrow-wing
Scientific NameEublemma parva
FamilyErebidae
SubfamilyEublemminae
Wingspan (mm)16
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, white, cream, dark brown
HabitatOpen dry areas, grasslands, steppes, cultivated fields, coastal dunes
Geographic RangeSouthern Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, parts of India; migratory to central and northern Europe
Host PlantsHelichrysum, Gnaphalium, Anthemis, Achillea
Flight PeriodMay to October (multiple generations)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on the flowers and seeds of various herbaceous plants, particularly Asteraceae. Pupation occurs in a cocoon, often on the host plant or in the soil, with multiple broods per year.
Identification TipsKey features include its small size, the cryptic brown and white forewing pattern with distinct white-ringed reniform and orbicular stigmata, and a noticeable dark patch near the outer margin of the forewing.
Description
A small, cryptically colored moth with forewings mottled in shades of light and dark brown, featuring prominent white-ringed stigmata and a dark terminal patch.
