Brown Knot-horn (Matilella fusca (Haworth, 1811))
Scientific name: Matilella fusca (Haworth, 1811)
Common name: Brown Knot-horn
Other names: Speckled Black Pyla Moth
French name: Phycide brune
Order: Lepidoptera
Suborder: Heterocera
Family: Pyralidae
Subfamily: Phycitinae
Wingspan: 25-28 mm
Biotope: Heathlands with heather and/or blueberries.
Geographic area: Holarctic area.
Flight time: May to early September.
Number of generations : 2
Caterpillar:
Host plant: Heathers (Erica spp), Blueberries (Vaccinium spp).
The Brown Knot-horn moth shows narrow dark greyish brown fore wings.
They are crossed by a median line and a submarginal line, both whitish, both zigzag-shaped and not always well visible.
The hind wings are pale brownish with a darker outer edge.
There is a possible confusion with the Birch Knot-horn (Ortholepis betulae). This last species has slightly narrower wings. They show tufts of erected black hairs which are not seen on the Brown Knot-horn. The cross lines are less wavy.

Brown Knot-horn (Matilella fusca) - Skaftafell national Park, Iceland - August 28th 2014
[To know more about the Brown Knot-horn]    [Top]
Brown Knot-horn (Matilella fusca)
Any natural behaviour will always come back.
Surrounded by a beautiful landscape of mountains and glaciers, I have looked down at the high grasses searching butterflies, moths or other insects.

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