72.001 BF2469 - The Herald - Erebidae - Scoliopteryx libatrix

72.001 BF2469 - Erebidae - Scoliopteryginae - Scoliopteryx libatrix - The Herald

Adult Macro: CAT 1 - Distinctive species unlikely to be confused with others -

- click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines

- Generally Common / Widespread

Taxonomy: Macro >> Erebidae

ID Difficulty: green

- easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.

ID pointers: A fairly unmistakable moth that is thick-set with short broad wings. The wing is heavily scalloped along the outer edge. There are bright orange blotches running through the forewing from the basal area. A tiny white spot in the central forewing area and another at the shoulder and an obvious whitish cross-line through the central area. Looks very much like a heraldic shield which I guess is where it gets its name.

Distribution: A resident that is widely distributed and fairly common locally in Derbyshire. Found in river valleys where there is good established quantities of Willow (Salix) species. It rarely comes to light and is often found hibernating in small numbers in caves, mines and disused buildings.

Flight Period: March / April / May / June / August / September / October / November / - On the wing August – November and March – June.

Wingspan: 40-45mm
Forewing: 19-23mm

Food Plant: Willow (Salix) and poplar (Populus).

Recorded dates for Common [Blue-coded ] moths are not stored on the website at this current time.

The Herald – Erebidae – Scoliopteryx libatrix