Flame shoulder
Its plain white hindwings and dark streaked forewings can make it look like two different moths depending on which wing is showing.
| Where | Woodland edges, gardens and meadows |
|---|---|
| Size | 25 to 34 mm wingspan |
| When | May to September |
The forewings are reddish brown with a dark streak broken by pale markings and a creamy stripe along the leading edge that gives the species its name, while the hindwings are plain white. Wingspan is about 25 to 34 mm.
There are usually two generations a year, and the nocturnal caterpillars feed low down on plants such as dock and plantain, sheltering by day and coming out to feed after dark.
Traits
Habitat
Grassland
Colour
Brown, White
Active
Night
To people
Harmless
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Radford's flame shoulder is slightly larger at 34 to 37 mm wingspan, with purer white hindwings and smaller central wing markings than the flame shoulder.
Questions
Is the Flame shoulder dangerous to people?
The Flame shoulder is harmless to people.
When can you see the Flame shoulder?
The Flame shoulder can be seen from May to September, 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›Owlet moths›Ochropleura
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.