Noctuidae

73.195 Dark Chestnut Conistra ligula (Esper, 1791)

Common

Similar species: Chestnut Conistra vaccinii has a slightly rounded outer edge to the forewing, rather than straight or concave.

Forewing: 13 to 15mm

Habitats: Deciduous woodland, calcareous downland scrub, green lanes, hedgerows and gardens.

Habits: The moth visits Ivy blossom. It is attracted to sugar and comes sparingly to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds mainly at night on the leaves of oaks, elms, Silver Birch, Downy Birch, sallows, Blackthorn, Hawthorn and other deciduous trees, and later herbaceous plants such as docks and Dandelion. The full-fed larva constructs a soil-covered cocoon under the earth where it rests until it pupates several weeks later.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Hornbeam, Field Maple, limes, cherries, Traveller's-joy and the barberry cultivar Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea'.