49.17 BF1077

Phiaris obsoletana

(Zetterstedt, 1839)

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Wingspan c. 16mm.

A species of high mountain slopes, occurring in the British Isles from the Highlands of Scotland and further north to the Shetland Isles.

The species shows some variation with a fairly plain, unicolorous form, which is illustrated.

It flies in the early morning from dawn to just after sunrise, and is on the wing in June and July.

Little is known about its life history, but it is often found amongst bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea).