Andrew Chick Ecology

The Hedge Rustic (Tholera cespitis) is an attractive late-summer moth found across much of Britain. Although rather understated at first glance, a closer look reveals beautifully patterned forewings marked with shades of brown, grey and cream, providing excellent camouflage when the moth is resting amongst vegetation.

Adults are typically on the wing from August into September, making the Hedge Rustic one of the characteristic moths of late summer and early autumn. It occurs in a range of grassy habitats, including rough grassland, field margins, roadside verges, gardens and other open countryside. As its name suggests, it can also be encountered around hedgerows, although its association with grasses is particularly important.

The caterpillars feed on various grasses, remaining close to the ground and feeding mainly at night. Like many moths associated with grassland, the species can easily go unnoticed during the day.

Adult Hedge Rustics are readily attracted to light, and August is a particularly good time to encounter them in garden moth traps. Their markings can be quite variable, with some individuals appearing relatively pale and others much darker.

The Hedge Rustic may lack the bright colours of some of our more spectacular moths, but its appearance in the moth trap is another small sign of the changing season. As summer begins to draw to a close, species such as Hedge Rustic become increasingly prominent, forming part of the distinctive moth fauna of late summer nights.