Noctuidae : Psaphidinae
Green-brindled Crescent
ALLOPHYES oxyacanthae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Green-brindled Crescent
ALLOPHYES oxyacanthae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 38-48mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - less Portugal,northern Russia,Sicily,Spain and most Mediterranean Islands
UK Distribution: England,Wales,Isle of Man & parts Southern Scotland - well distributed and abundant : Mainland Scotland,Ireland - local : Channel Isles - abundant
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Broadleaved Woodland : Gardens : Hedgrerows : Scrub
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates in a well formed cocoon underground
Overwinters as: Ovum
Observations: There are two forms of this moth which is unmistakable,the first shown below is the paler of the two with brown forewings with varying amounts of green dusting over the wings. The second f capucina Mill.,usually from suburban areas,is dark brown or melanic marked with tawny brown but no green scales on the forewing.The second form is unknown outside of Great Britain.Both forms of this moth have a crescent shaped mark on the dorsum,which gives this moth its common name,blends with the postmedian line.
As an autumn species it is often found feeding on Ivy flowers and overipe blackberries.The moth is also attracted to light appearing at the moth trap in small numbers.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - less Portugal,northern Russia,Sicily,Spain and most Mediterranean Islands
UK Distribution: England,Wales,Isle of Man & parts Southern Scotland - well distributed and abundant : Mainland Scotland,Ireland - local : Channel Isles - abundant
UK Conservation Status -
- NERC S.41 : 2008 (England) & NERC S.42 : 2009 (Wales) - Species "of principle importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity
- Northern Ireland - Priority Species : 2010
- Nationally Scarce B (Nb - BAP : 1997) = 31 - 100 10Km Squares
- BAP : 2007 - Priority Species
- Least Concern
- Phalaena (Noctua) oxyacanthae (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Phalaena oxyacanthae (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Europe - LS.London
Habitat: Broadleaved Woodland : Gardens : Hedgrerows : Scrub
Similar Species -
- None
Pupa: Pupates in a well formed cocoon underground
Overwinters as: Ovum
Observations: There are two forms of this moth which is unmistakable,the first shown below is the paler of the two with brown forewings with varying amounts of green dusting over the wings. The second f capucina Mill.,usually from suburban areas,is dark brown or melanic marked with tawny brown but no green scales on the forewing.The second form is unknown outside of Great Britain.Both forms of this moth have a crescent shaped mark on the dorsum,which gives this moth its common name,blends with the postmedian line.
As an autumn species it is often found feeding on Ivy flowers and overipe blackberries.The moth is also attracted to light appearing at the moth trap in small numbers.
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.
- Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle Family
- Lonicera xylosteum - European Fly Honeysuckle
- Rosaceae - The Rose Family
- Amelanchier spicata - Thicket Shadbush - Low Juneberry
- Amelanchier stolonifera - Quebec Berry
- Crataegus laevigata - Midland Hawthorn
- Malus pumila - Paradise Apple
- Malus sylvestris - Crab Apple
- Prunus armeniaca - Apricot
- Prunus cerasus - Sour Cherry
- Prunus domestica - Bullace - Plum
- Prunus padus - Bird Cherry - Hackberry
- Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn - Sloe (Britain)
- Pyrus communis - Wild Pear
- Sorbus aucuparia - Mountain Ash - Rowan
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - ALLOPHYES: Original species Name: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Noctuidae Psaphidinae ALLOPHYES Tams 1942 Allophyes oxyacanthae (Linnaeus, 1758) - Phalaena oxyacanthae Linnaeus, 1758 - PHALAENA (Noctua) oxyacanthae (Linnaeus, 1758) = Meganephria oxyacanthae fulva Rothschild, 1914 - Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.516 - n.113 - Europe - LS. London |