73.092 BF2387

Mottled Rustic Caradrina morpheus

(Hufnagel, 1766)

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Wingspan 32-38 mm.

Although superficially similar to several related species, this moth always show a distinctly large and dark reniform stigma, and is fairly broad-winged.

It occupies a range of habitats including suburban areas, and is common to abundant in much of England and Wales, scarcer in Scotland and Ireland.

It flies from June to August, sometimes with a small second brood in October in the south, and is frequent at light.

The larvae feed on a number of herbaceous plants, especially nettle (Urtica) and dandelion (Taraxacum).