The Small Rufous (Coenobia rufa) is a moth of the family Noctuidae.It is found in western and central Europe, Scandinavia and the British Isles.[1] [2] [3]
The wingspan is 22–25 mm.[2] Forewing uniform rufous, with an obscure dark streak from base along middle of wing; a row of outer dots on veins, sometimes hardly visible; hindwing pale, greyer towards termen; in the ab. lineola Stph the forewing is reddish grey; the veins dotted pale and dark grey; the inner and outer lines shown by rows of dots; in pallescens Tutt the red tinge is wholly absent, the forewing being whitish ochreous.[4] •— Larva whitish,dorsally reddish; a dark lateral line, and minute dark dots on each segment; head and plates shining brown.
The moth flies in July and August.The larvae feed on jointed rush (Juncus articulatus) and other rushes.[5] [6] Found in damp swampy places overgrown with rushes;often flying in the afternoon sunshine; the females are rarely taken, resting concealed in the lower parts ofthe rush clumps.