About Siona lineata (Scopoli, 1763)
The wingspan of Siona lineata ranges from 35 to 40 millimeters. The upperside of the wings is white or cream, with dusky-colored veins, while the underside of the wings has black or dark brown veins. The underside of the wings usually also features a blackish transverse stripe located beyond the middle of the wing; this stripe is very faint on the hindwings. Freshly emerged moths are typically cream-colored, but their wings become whiter as they age. As scales are lost over time, the black veins on the underside of the wings become increasingly visible through the wing on the upperside. This moth has a small head, with large, globose lateral eyes. Its legs are long and slender. Males have a long, slender abdomen with an upward-curved end, while females have a stouter, uncurved abdomen. Females are smaller, have more angular wings, and have three longitudinal black lines on the abdomen. This rather common species is found across Europe. It is quite rare in the United Kingdom, where it only occurs in east Kent. It is also present in the Amur and Ussuri Regions, southern Siberia, central Asia, Kazakhstan, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, and Russia. These moths live in limestone and chalk grassland, rough downland, open woodlands, pastures, and other grassy areas.
