Noctuidae : Acronictinae
Sycamore
ACRONICTA (Acronicta) aceris (Linnaeus, 1758)
Sycamore
ACRONICTA (Acronicta) aceris (Linnaeus, 1758)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 41-49mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - not including Ireland and some Mediterranean Islands
UK Distribution: South-east and central southern England including East Anglia - well distributed and fairly frequent : South-west England and south-west Wales,east Midlands,south Yorkshire and Cheshire - Local : Channel Isles - Jersey - widespread and frequent - rest of Channel Isles - rare
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Urban Areas : Parks : Gardens
Similar Species -
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The main identification for this moth is seen with the subterminal cross line which is "S" shaped and made up of pale grey blocks which is not seen in either of the similar moths.
The forewings of the female are broad but narrower in the male. The forewings are grey with dark grey to black freckling and orbicular spot clearly marked,ringed in dark grey. Just behind the head tufts there are two opposed concave, thin dark grey, short lines.
The moth is attracted to light,sugar and flowers.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - not including Ireland and some Mediterranean Islands
UK Distribution: South-east and central southern England including East Anglia - well distributed and fairly frequent : South-west England and south-west Wales,east Midlands,south Yorkshire and Cheshire - Local : Channel Isles - Jersey - widespread and frequent - rest of Channel Isles - rare
UK Conservation Status -
- Local = 101 - 300 10km squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena aceris (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Phalana leporina (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Europe
Habitat: Urban Areas : Parks : Gardens
Similar Species -
- Poplar Grey - Subacronicta megacephala - ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
- Sweet Gale Moth - Acronicta cinerea - (Hufnagel, 1766)
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The main identification for this moth is seen with the subterminal cross line which is "S" shaped and made up of pale grey blocks which is not seen in either of the similar moths.
The forewings of the female are broad but narrower in the male. The forewings are grey with dark grey to black freckling and orbicular spot clearly marked,ringed in dark grey. Just behind the head tufts there are two opposed concave, thin dark grey, short lines.
The moth is attracted to light,sugar and flowers.
Photo Gallery
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.
- Aceraceae - Maple Family
- Acer campestre - Field Maple
- Acer platanoides - Norway Maple
- Acer pseudoplatanus - Sycamore
- Betulaceae - Birch Family
- Corylus avellana - Hazel
- Fabaceae - Leguminosea - The Pulse - Bean - Pea - Legume Family
- Laburnum anagyroides - Laburnum
- Laburnum anagyroides - Laburnum
- Fagaceae - Oak - Chestnut - Beech Family
- Quercus robur - Pedunculate Oak - Common Oak
- Hippocastanaceae - Horse Chestnut Family
- Aesculus hippocastanum - Horse Chestnut
- Platanaceae - Plane Tree Family
- Platanus × acerifolia - London Plane
- Salicaceae - Willow Family
- Salix caprea - Goat Willow
- Tiliaceae - Lime Family
- Tilia platyphyllos - Large-leaved Lime
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Subtribe: Genus: Subgenus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - ACRONICTA: Original Species Name: Species Names: Nominotypical subspecies : Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Noctuidae Noctuinae Acronictinae Acronictini ACRONICTA Ochsenheimer 1816 acronicta Ochsenheimer 1816 Acronicta (Acronicta) aceris (Linnaeus, 1758) - Phalana leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) - PHALAENA aceris (Linnaeus, 1758) = Noctua infuscata Haworth, 1809 = Acronycta paradoxa Boisduval, 1829 - Phalaena aceris aceris (Linnaeus, 1758) - Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.514 - n.98 - Europe |