About Amblyptilia punctidactyla (Haworth, 1811)
This species, Amblyptilia punctidactyla (Haworth, 1811), has a wingspan of 18–23 millimetres, equal to 0.71–0.91 inches. In western Europe, it produces two generations per year. Adults are active on the wing in July, and again from September to early June of the following year, as they hibernate over the winter. Known as the brindled plume, the adult imago of this species looks similar to the closely related beautiful plume (Amblyptilia acanthadactyla). However, Amblyptilia punctidactyla is darker, with an overall greyish-brown coloration, in contrast to the warm reddish-brown color of the beautiful plume, and it also has distinct white speckling. Certain identification requires examination of the species' genitalia. The larvae feed on the flowers and unripe seeds of a variety of herbaceous plants, and only feed on plants growing in shaded locations. Recorded larval food plants are European columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris), common stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium), meadow crane's-bill (Geranium pratense), bog-myrtle (Myrica gale), primroses (Primula species), and hedge woundwort (Stachys sylvatica).
