Shark

Noctuidae : Cucullinae

Shark

CUCULLIA (Cucullia) umbratica (Linnaeus, 1758)

Kind permission - © Tim Norriss

Life Cycle Guide

Description

Wingspan: 48 - 57mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - less Mediterranean Islands : Afghanistan : Turkestan : Mongolia
UK Distribution: England,Wales,parts of Ireland - well distributed and fairly frequent : Scotland,Ilse of Man - widespread but local : Channel Isles - widespread and frequent
UK Conservation Status -

Common = > 300 10km squares

European Conservation Status -

Least Concern

Original Species Name -

Phalaena (Noctua) umbratica Linnaeus, 1758

Type Species - Cucullia

Phalaena umbratica Linnaeus, 1758

Type Locality -

[Europe]

Flight Period: South - May - August : Elsewhere - June - August
Habitat: Gardens : Chalk & Limestone Grassland : Marshes : Sand-dunes : Shingle Beaches
Similar Species -

Chamomile Shark - Cucullia chamomillae - ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Larva: The 50mm final instar larva is coloured in various shades of brown with mottling with a series of yellowish orange lines,the thickest just below the spiracular line.The spiracles are highlighted at small black blotches.Head is blackish brown.
Pupa: Pupates in a tough cocoon beneath soil
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: Although similar to the Chamomile Shark this moth is larger and greyer and flies later in the season.This moth also has forewing fringes which are clear of the black streaks found in the similar species.The hindwing of the male is white with clearly defined veins whereas the female has brown hindwings,lighter at the base.

The moth is attracted to light and feeds on flowers like Honeysuckle.

Subspecies
C.u.umbratica Linnaeus, 1758 - Europe

The Shark - Cucullia umbratica - (Linnaeus, 1758) - Waterlooville, Hants - 2 July 2005 - © Tim Norriss

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.

Asteraceae - Compositae - Aster-Daisy - Sunflower Family
- Cichorium endivia - Endive
- Crepis biennis - Rough Hawksbeard
- Crepis capillaris - Smooth Hawksbeard
- Crepis paludosa - Marsh Hawksbeard
- Crepis vesicaria - Beaked Hawksbeard
- Erigeron annuus - Annual Fleabane
- Hieracium pilosella - Mouse-ear Hawkweed
- Hieracium umbellatum - Hawkbit
- Hypochaeris maculata - Spotted Hawkweed
- Sonchus arvensis - Field Milk Thistle,Perennial Sow-thistle
- Taraxacum officinale - Common Dandelion
Caryophyllaceae - Pink - Carnation Family
- Silene pratensis - Evening Campion
Rubiaceae - Bedstraw Family
- Galium verum - Lady's Bedstraw

Larval Food Plants

Taxonomy

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Type Species - CUCULLIA:

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Subspecies:

Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Cuculliinae
CUCULLIA Schrank, 1802
culcullia Schrank, 1802
Cucullia (Cucullia) umbratica (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Phalaena umbratica Linnaeus, 1758
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PHALAENA (Noctua) umbratica Linnaeus, 1758
= Cucullia sonchi Heinemann, 1859
= albida Spuler, 1908
= lucifuga
= lactucae
= tanaceti
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Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title Page : p.515 n.103
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[Europe]
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C.u.umbratica Linnaeus, 1758 - Europe
C.u.lampra (Püngeler, 1909) - Xinjang