65.016 : 1659 : 7498
Drapanidae : Thyatirinae

Yellow Horned

ACHLYA flavicornis Linnaeus, 1758

Subspecies
A.f.galbanus Tutt, 1891 - not Scotland
A.f.scotica Tutt, 1888 - Scotland
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 35-40mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - (not southern parts) : Russia : Japan
UK Distribution: A.f.galbanus Tutt, 1891 - well distributed and frequent in most parts of England & lowland Wales : Ireland - widespread :
A.f.scotica Tutt, 1888 - widely distributed in mainland Scotland
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena (Noctua) flavicornis Linnaeus, 1758
Type Species - Achlya
  • Phalaena flavicornis Linnaeus, 1758
Type Locality -
  • Sweden
Flight Period: South - February to mid May : Elsewhere - February to April
Habitat: Woodland : Heathland : Moorland
Similar Species -
  • Poplar Lutestring Tethea or ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Larva: The final instar larva viewed from the side is either off white all over or off white below the spiracles with a darker greyish black above.They have black spotted lateral lines with white spots all over the larva which are very distinct with the darker larva.
Pupa: Overwinters as a pupa in a cocoon,amongst leaf litter
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The moth is named from the yellow marking on the orange antennae, which can clearly be seen in the last photo shown below.
The ssp.galbanus,Tutt, 1891 is considered well distributed and frequent in England,Wales and Ireland whereas the ssp.scotica Tutt, 1888 is restricted to mainland of Scotland,Inner Hebrides & Orkney isles, where it can be found along river valleys.

The similar species Poplar Lutestring does not have the orange antennae and flies much later in the season between May and September.

The moth is distinctive with medium grey forewings, with two clearly marked median cross-lines in almost black and a whitish patch within the median area towards the costa.The stigmata and orbital spot are lighter grey which makes them stand out in the whitish median patch.
The ssp.scotica is larger and darker with mauvish-grey forewings with heavier markings.

The moth is attracted to light and sugar and is often found in small numbers at the moth trap.
Subspecies
A.f.galbanus Tutt, 1891 - England/Wales & Ireland - not Scotland
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 - ACHLA:

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Subspecies:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Drepanoidea
Drepanidae
Thyatirinae
ACHYLA Billberg 1820
Achyla flavicornis Linnaeus, 1758
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Phalaena flavicornis Linnaeus, 1758
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PHALAENA (Noctua) flavicornis Linnaeus, 1758
= Achyla cinerea (Hufnagel, 1767)
= Achyla sulphureomaculata (Retzius, 1783)
= Achyla luteicornis (Haworth, 1810)
= Kurama anglica Houlbert, 1921
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Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title Page : p.518 - n.120
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Sweden
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A.f.f.obscura Spuler, 1908 - melanic with white discal spots
A.f.f.nigromaculata Lempke, 1960 - as above discal spots suffused
A.f.f.haverkampfi lambillon, 1903 - Silvery grey w/whitish coastal zone
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A.f.galbanus Tutt, 1891 - England - lighter
A.f.scotica Tutt, 1888
A.f.finnarchica Schöyen, 1881 - Norway - darker and larger
A.f.meridionalis Wolfsberger, 1968 - northern Italy - light ash-grey and larger wingspan