Photedes captiuncula, the least minor, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found throughout Europe, in Turkey, Armenia, Russia and much of temperate Asia (western Siberia, Altai mountains, Central Asia and Amur).[1][2]
The wingspan is 15–18 mm.[2][3] Forewing whitish ochreous, the base and costal area fulvous, olive-tinged; the median and terminal areas either simply deeper fulvous or darkened with blackish scales; the lines white, thicker in female than male, sometimes diffusely expanded on inner margin; orbicular and reniform sometimes orange-tawny, or grey brown and obscure, generally with pale rings; hindwing dark fuscous; in expolita Dbld.the usual North British form, the forewing is uniform greyish brown; this is also recorded from Armenia; — in tincta Kane, from Ireland, (which Staudinger wrongly sinks to captiuncula), the basal area is grey, the median deep pink, and the terminal pale glossy pink.[4]
The moth flies in June and July.
Larva (of expolita) ochreous tinged with reddish, more purplish on the dorsum of middle segments; head reddish brown; thoracic plate paler. The larvae feed internally (in the stem and roots) on glaucous sedge, Carex glauca and other sedges.[3][5][6]
Photedes captiuncula, the least minor, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found throughout Europe, in Turkey, Armenia, Russia and much of temperate Asia (western Siberia, Altai mountains, Central Asia and Amur).
