About Platyptilia gonodactyla (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
This species, Platyptilia gonodactyla, has a wingspan ranging from 22 to 28 mm. Its wings are pale brown or grayish, with chestnut-colored markings near the wing tips. It is very similar in appearance to Platyptilia nemoralis and Platyptilia calodactyla, but can be distinguished by a very small scaletooth on the dorsum of its third wing lobe. By the end of March, fully developed caterpillars of this species are approximately six millimeters long. Caterpillars have a glossy black head, black mouthparts, a black prothoracal shield, and black thoracic legs. Their body is yellow, with a broad reddish stripe along the back. Platyptilia gonodactyla occurs in the Palearctic realm, and is widely distributed across Britain. Its habitat includes open grassy areas, waste ground, meadows, and the edges of spruce forests.
