Description and Ecology
The adult's wingspan is 18–21 mm; in their core range (e.g. Belgium and the Netherlands) they can be seen between April and November, but in outlying regions they may only be regularly encountered in late summer and early autumn, when vagrant individuals abound. This species is strongly sexually dimorphic: males are light brown with a wavy pattern of whitish lines and a broad darker band running across the wings, forming concentric semicircles when the moth is at rest. There is a small whitish-rimmed black spot within the darker band between the center and the leading edge of each forewing. The females are slightly larger and much darker, almost uniformly blackish-brown with an indistinct lighter pattern and a forewing spot like the males have.
The caterpillar larvae feed on a wide range of low-growing core eudicots, but prefer asterids. Host plants recorded from the Central European part of its range include:
Euasterids I
- Gentianales: Rubiaceae
- Galium (bedstraws)
- Solanales: Convolvulaceae
- Convolvulus (true bindweeds)
Euasterids II
- Asterales: Asteraceae
- Anthemis (dog-fennels)
- Chrysanthemum (chrysanthemums)
- Eupatorium (bonesets)
- Senecio (ragworts and groundsels) – e.g Common Groundsel (S. vulgaris) in the British Isles
Eurosids II
- Brassicales: Brassicaceae
- Alyssum (alyssums)
- Nasturtium (watercresses)
Basal core eudicots
- Caryophyllales: Polygonaceae
- Polygonum (knotweed)
- Rumex (docks and sorrels)
Read more about this topic: Orthonama Obstipata
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