70.204 BF1662

Light Orange Underwing Archiearis notha

(Hübner, [1803])

Wingspan c.35 mm.

A scarcer species than Orange Underwing A. parthenias, occurring locally in the southern half of England, although absent from the south-west.

The adults have rather less variegated forewings than A. parthenias and subtle differences in the black suffusion of the hindwing, though these are difficult to establish in the field.

The larvae feed on aspen (Populus tremula), hiding in the daytime between spun leaves. Like Orange Underwing, it is an early flyer, being on the wing in March and April.