Eriopygodes imbecilla

This species is present in most of Europe.[3][4]

This species commonly lives on gullies and hollows in high moorland areas with host plants.[5]

The wingspan is 24–27 mm.[6][7] The colour of these small moths may vary from tawny to reddish brown. Forewings usually show a pale kidney mark and two wavy cross lines, but often these markings are quite indistinct. Usually females are darker or chocolate brown and smaller than the males.[5] The rear wings are often pale greyish. Seitz describes it E. imbecilla F. (= aliena male Hbn., alpina female Hbn., disparilis O., nexa Dup.) Forewing rufous ochreous, sometimes grey-tinged, in the male, rufous brown in the female; veins finely brownish; inner and outer lines brown; submarginal obscure, the marginal area beyond it generally darker; reniform stigma externally whitish, preceded by a brownish median shade ; hindwing greyish fuscous : fringe rufous. — Larva dirty grey, with a few yellowish grey hairs; dorsal line fine, whitish, traversing a series of black or brown oval blotches : lateral stripes dark grey, with a pale line at middle ; spiracles black , each with a shining black point above it; head blackish, with 3 white lines.[8]

Adults fly from June to July.[5] Larvae are polyphagous on low plants, mainly feeding on bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), heath bedstraw (Galium saxatile),[5] Knautia and Lamium.[4][9]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lasionycta imbecilla.

• The Silurian at UKMoths
• Lepiforum e.V.