Noctuidae : Acronictinae
Poplar Grey
SUBACRONICTA megacephala ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
Poplar Grey
SUBACRONICTA megacephala ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 38-45mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe
UK Distribution: England,Wales & Channel Isles - well distributed and frequent - Scotland & Ireland - locally distributed - Isle of Man - Local & rare
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Typically where larval food plant grows,eg. Gardens - Parks - Woodland
Similar Species -
Pupa: Overwinters hidden in a flimsy cocoon
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The moth background colour is light to darker shade of grey with darker patches on the forewing especially adjacent to the wing apex and a lighter grey patch above,see photo 2.The almost white orbicular spot is prominent and highlighted with a small black dot at the centre.
At first glance it is easy to see how this moth can be mistaken for its similar species the Knot Grass as both have prominent orbicular spots but on careful study the latter is smaller with cross lines that are distinctive and with an additional diagnostic white spot along the dorsum, two thirds from the base.
In the south there is a possible second generation for this moth.
The Poplar Grey is attracted to the light and is found regularly at the moth trap as well as being attracted to flowers and sugar.Can be found during the day on fences of tree trunks.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe
UK Distribution: England,Wales & Channel Isles - well distributed and frequent - Scotland & Ireland - locally distributed - Isle of Man - Local & rare
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = >300 10Km Squares
- Noctua megacephala ([Denis & Shiffermüller],1775)
- Noctua megacephala ([Denis & Schiffermüller]'1775)
- Austria - near Vienna
Habitat: Typically where larval food plant grows,eg. Gardens - Parks - Woodland
Similar Species -
- Knot Grass - Acronicta (Viminia) rumicis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Pupa: Overwinters hidden in a flimsy cocoon
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The moth background colour is light to darker shade of grey with darker patches on the forewing especially adjacent to the wing apex and a lighter grey patch above,see photo 2.The almost white orbicular spot is prominent and highlighted with a small black dot at the centre.
At first glance it is easy to see how this moth can be mistaken for its similar species the Knot Grass as both have prominent orbicular spots but on careful study the latter is smaller with cross lines that are distinctive and with an additional diagnostic white spot along the dorsum, two thirds from the base.
In the south there is a possible second generation for this moth.
The Poplar Grey is attracted to the light and is found regularly at the moth trap as well as being attracted to flowers and sugar.Can be found during the day on fences of tree trunks.
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.
- Betulaceae - Birch Family
- Alnus incana - Grey Alder
- Salicaceae - Willow Family
- Populus alba - White Poplar
- Populus balsamifera - Balsam Poplar
- Populus nigra - Black Poplar - Lombardy Poplar (ssp italia)
- Populus tremula - Aspen Poplar
- Salix alba - White Willow
- Salix caprea - Goat Willow
- Salix fragilis - Crack Willow
- Salix pentandra - Bay Willow
- Salix Pulchra - Tealeaf Willow
- Salix viminalis - Osier
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - SUBACRONICTA: Original Species Name: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Noctuidae Acronictinae SUBACRONICTA Kozhantshikov 1950 Subacronicta megacephala ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - Noctua megacephala ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - NOCTUA megacephala ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) = Noctua megacephala [Schiffermüller], 1775 = Acronycta megacephala ankarensis Hering, 1933 = Acronicta megacephala dungerni Rangnow, 1935 - Ankündung eines systematischen Werkes von den Schmetterlingen der Wienergegend: : Title Page : p.67 - n.5 - Austria - near Vienna |