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Noctuidae : Acronictinae

The Miller

ACRONICTA (Acronicta) leporina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
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 -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena leporina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Species - Acronicta
  • Phalaena leporina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Locality -
  • Europe
Flight Period: South-May to August : Elsewhere-Late May to early August
Habitat: Urban areas : Heathland : Moorland : Fens : Broadleaved Woodland
Similar Species -
  • None
Larva: The larva has very few markings to help with identification,is light green,occasionally a few black tufts on top of lava viewed from the side and is covered in long white hairs. Larva-July to late September or early October. The larva changes colour to light brown prior to pupation.
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 :-

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 - ACRONICTA:

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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)
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Phalaena leporina (Linnaeus, 1758)
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PHALAENA leporina (Linnaeus, 1758)
= Noctua bradyporina Hübner, 1813
= Apatela sancta H. Edwards, 1888.
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Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.510 - n.79
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Europe