Xestia ditrapezium

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Triple-spotted clay
Xestia ditrapezium.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Xestia
Species:
X. ditrapezium
Binomial name
Xestia ditrapezium
Synonyms
  • Noctua ditrapezium[Schiffermüller], 1775

Xestia ditrapezium (triple-spotted clay) is a moth of the family Noctuidae found in most of Europe, northern Turkey, northern Iran, Transcaucasia, Caucasus, central Asia, from the Altai to Ussuri, Amur, Kuril Islands, northern Mongolia, Tibet, China, Korea, and Japan.

Contents

The wingspan is 35–47 mm. The forewing is darker than in Xestia triangulum Hufn., a smooth vinous brown; the dark markings are not so black; the hindwing is distinctly yellowish-tinged. [1]

Differences from X. triangulum:

2, 2a, 2b, 2c larvae after final moult Buckler W The larvae of the British butterflies and moths PlateLXXIV.jpg
2, 2a, 2b, 2c larvae after final moult

Biology

Adults are on wing from in July.

When they are small, the larvae overwinter while hibernating. After winter, they feed on various food plants, including Vaccinium myrtillus , Prunus spinosa , Salix , Alnus , Betula and Rubus (including Rubus idaeus ). [2]

References

  1. Seitz, A. Ed., 1914 Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde, Verlag Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart Band 3: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen eulenartigen Nachtfalter, 1914 PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  2. Robinson, Gaden S.; Ackery, Phillip R.; Kitching, Ian; Beccaloni, George W.; Hernández, Luis M. (2023). "Robinson, G. S., P. R. Ackery, I. J. Kitching, G. W. Beccaloni & L. M. Hernández, 2010. HOSTS - A Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants. Natural History Museum, London". Natural History Museum. doi:10.5519/havt50xw.