Noctuidae : Acronictinae
The Miller
ACRONICTA (Acronicta) leporina (Linnaeus, 1758)
The Miller
ACRONICTA (Acronicta) leporina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 37-48mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe
UK Distribution: England and Wales-Widespread and frequent : Scotland,Isle of Man and Ireland-Local : Channel Isles-Rare
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Urban areas : Heathland : Moorland : Fens : Broadleaved Woodland
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupa overwinters in rotten wood
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The moth has few identfation marks, although the black crescent shape over the reniform stigmata,the white forewing covered in grey dusting are diognistic and make this an easy moth to identify.Other identification marks include a terminal cross line which is a series of black dots and on the head are two short black dashes and round the side,two black dashes.
The female tends to be larger and broader than the male.
The Miller is a regular at the light trap,feeds on flowers and is also attracted to sugar
Worldwide Distribution: Europe
UK Distribution: England and Wales-Widespread and frequent : Scotland,Isle of Man and Ireland-Local : Channel Isles-Rare
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = >300 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena leporina (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Phalaena leporina (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Europe
Habitat: Urban areas : Heathland : Moorland : Fens : Broadleaved Woodland
Similar Species -
- None
Pupa: Pupa overwinters in rotten wood
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The moth has few identfation marks, although the black crescent shape over the reniform stigmata,the white forewing covered in grey dusting are diognistic and make this an easy moth to identify.Other identification marks include a terminal cross line which is a series of black dots and on the head are two short black dashes and round the side,two black dashes.
The female tends to be larger and broader than the male.
The Miller is a regular at the light trap,feeds on flowers and is also attracted to sugar
Photo Gallery
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
The Miller larvae are polyphagous,feeding on plant families described below plant photos.
The larvae also feed on the following list of hostplant names :-
The Miller larvae are polyphagous,feeding on plant families described below plant photos.
The larvae also feed on the following list of hostplant names :-
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 platanoides - Norway Maple
- Betulaceae - The Birch Family
- Alnus glutinosa - Alder
- Alnus incana - Grey Alder
- Betula papyrifera - Paper Birch
- Betula pendula - Silver Birch
- Betula pubescens - Downy Birch - European White Birch
- Corylus avellana - Hazel
- Rosaceae - The Rose Family
- Sorbus hybrida - Swedish Service Tree
- Salicaceae - Willow Family
- Populus alba - White Poplar
- Populus balsamifera - Balsam Poplar
- Populus nigra - Black Poplar - Lombardy Poplar
- Populus suaveolens - Mongolian Poplar
- Populus tremula - Aspen Poplar
- Populus tremuloides - American Aspen-Poplar
- Salix alba - White Willow
- Salix caprea - Goat Willow
- Salix cinerea - Grey Willow
- Salix fragilis - Crack Willow
- Salix pentandra - Bay Willow
- Salix phylicifolia - Tealeaf Willow
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
- Fagaceae - Fagus -Beech/Quercus - Oaks
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
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: Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Noctuidae Noctuinae Acronictinae Acronictini ACRONICTA Ochsenheimer 1816 acronicta Ochsenheimer 1816 Acronicta (acronicta) leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) - Phalaena leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) - PHALAENA leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) = Noctua bradyporina Hübner, 1813 = Apatela sancta H. Edwards, 1888. - Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.510 - n.79 - Europe |