65.010 : 1654 : 7485
Drepanidae : Thyatirinae

Figure of Eighty

TETHEA ocularis (Linnaeus, 1767)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 38-43mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe :  Central Asia : Japan : Asia Minor : Caucasus.
UK Distribution: England and Wales north to Cumbria and Yorkshire - Common : western Wales & Cornwall - thinly distributed : Channel Isles - widespread and occasional
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = > 300 10km squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena ocularis (Linnaeus, 1767)
Type Species - Tethea
  • Noctua or ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Type Locality -
  • in Italia
Flight Period: South - mid April - mid August : Elsewhere - May - July : Europe - double brooded - end May - September
Habitat: Broadleaf Forest : Woodland Margins : Parkland : Hedgerows : Gardens
Similar Species -
  • Poplar Lutestring - Tethea or ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Larva: The 32mm final instar larva is yellowish white with orange head and a yellowish prothoracic plate.
Pupa: Pupates overwinter in a cocoon
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The forewings of this moth are different shades of brown with a metallic sheen, seen under certain lighting conditions.
The moth derives its name from the white "80" mark within the median area adjacent to the costa.
The antemedian,postmedian and termial cross lines are clearly defined in black whereas all other cross lines tend to be lighter.
Black spots are in the basal area and tend to show more clearly in moths with lighter coloured forewings.

The moth is attracted to light,sugar and wire rope.
Subspecies
T. o. octogesemia (Hübner, 1786) - not southern Europe - wider,white discal spot
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Note - Plants hyperlinked in red below take the visitor to the relevant plant page on"Plants for a Future" website where further information like photos,physical characteristics,habitats,edible uses,medicinal uses,cultivation,propagation,range,height etc. are clearly listed.
  • Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Type Species TETHEA:

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Forms:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Drepanoidea
Drepanidae
Thyatirinae
TETHEA Ochsenheimer 1816
Tethea ocularis (Linnaeus, 1767)
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Noctua or ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
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PHALAENA ocularis (Linnaeus, 1767)
= Phalaena octogesimea Hübner, 1786
= octogena (Esper, 1788)
= ocularis osthelder (Bytinski-Salz, 1937)
= octogesima auct.
= Tethea basifusca Lempke 1960
= Tethea brunnea Lempke 1960
= Palimpsestis clausa Lempke, 1938
= Palimpsestis confluens Lempke, 1938
= Tethea cotangens Lempke 1960
= Palimpsestis discolor Lempke, 1938
= Palimpsestis fasciata Lingonblad, 1950
= Tethea fusca Cockayne 1944
= Cymatophora interrupta Spuler, 1908
= Tethea mediofusca Cockayne 1952
= Tethea microphthalma Cockayne 1951
= Cymatophora rosea Tutt, 1891
= Cymatophora sareptensis Spuler, 1908
= Tethea separata Lempke 1960
= Tethea variegata Lempke 1960
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Syst. Nat. (Edn 12) 1 (2):  Title page : p.837 - n.100
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in Italia
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T.o.kosswigi (Werny, 1966)
T.o.orientalis (Werny, 1966)
T.o.octogesemia (Hübner, 1786) - non southern Europe - wider, white discal spots
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T.o.cotangens Lempke, 1960 - lines bordering central area converge under discal spots
T.o.brunnea Lempke, 1960 - light brown colour forewings
T.o.frankii Boegl, 1920 - melanic form with only white discal spots showing.
T.o.fusca Cockayne,1944 - less intensive melanic form where markings stand out on blackish brown background - Great Britain & Netherlands