Nyctobrya (Bryopsis) muralis

• Subfamily: Bryophilinae
• Wingspan: 27-34 mm
• Flight period: Jun - Sep
• Spread: Common
• Host plants: Lichens

Information

The Nyctobrya muralis is a moth of the Noctuidae family, subfamily Bryophilinae, with a wingspan of 27-34 mm.
In Europe it is quite common in fact it is absent from Finland, Norway, Denmark, Czech Republic, Poland and the Baltic countries
In Italy it is also present in the islands. *

The wings of the front Nyctobrya muralis have a black cross-line grid. The stigmata are pale and finely outlined in black. The subterminal line is indistinct. The hind wings range from pale brown to charcoal gray with white fringe.
Adults show some degree of color variation ranging from white to various shades of green. The green pigment, as in other similar species, is subject to deterioration within a short period of time.

The adults flutter from June to September depending on the position, and it is normally present on calcareous soils. Predominantly nocturnal, this moth is attracted to both artificial lights and some species of flowers.
Xerothermophilous (which prefers or otherwise tolerates environmental conditions with high temperatures and scarce water availability) it frequents rocky meadows and sunny slopes and open forests, during the day it rests on rocks and trunks covered with lichens. It overwinters in the larval stage.***

The Larva is dark gray with a greenish tinge, has a white dorsal line, sometimes interrupted; the lower part it is yellowish in color. the head is black and shiny. **
The chrysalis is darker amber brown near the Cremaster . The pupation takes place inside a silky cocoon covered by leaves and / or lichens. **

The larva feeds on lichen and algae (Protococcus) on tree trunks and rocks. ***


* Lepidoptera mundi https://lepidoptera.eu/ - Fauna Europea https://fauna-eu.org/
** Bestimmungshilfe für die in Europa nachgewiesenen Schmetterlingsarten - http://lepiforum.de/
*** Roland Robineau, Guide de papillons nocturne de France, Delachaux et Niestlé, 2011 p.113