Rosy tabby
It rests with the front of its body propped up on its forelegs and its wings angled downward, a posture unlike most other small moths.
| Where | Gardens, hedgerows, and scrub |
|---|---|
| Size | 18 to 23 mm wingspan |
| When | June to August |
This is a small moth with a pinkish-brown, mottled pattern across the forewings and a distinctive raised, tent-like resting stance.
Caterpillars feed on a range of low plants and shrubs at first, then move into leaf litter to finish development before pupating.
Traits
Habitat
Garden
Colour
Brown, Red
Active
Night
To people
Harmless
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Gold triangle has straight golden-yellow bands crossing a purplish-brown forewing, a cleaner geometric pattern than the rosy tabby's mottled, blurred markings.
Questions
Is the Rosy tabby dangerous to people?
The Rosy tabby is harmless to people.
When can you see the Rosy tabby?
The Rosy tabby can be seen from June to August, at night.
Plate retouched from a photo by Ben Sale from UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons Licence
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Butterflies and moths›Pyralid moths›Endotricha
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.