73.257 BF2142

Beautiful Yellow Underwing Anarta myrtilli

(Linnaeus, 1761)

Wingspan 20-22 mm.

A quite small species, with a wingspan of only around 25mm, this is a diurnal moth, flying freely in warm sunshine, but tending to rest when the sun goes in.

Frequenting acid moorland, there are probably two generations in the south, with moths on the wing from May to August. In the north it flies in June and July.

It has a scattered distribution over most of Britain, and the larvae feed mainly on heather (Calluna).