73.072 : 2401 : 9364
Noctuidae : Heliothinae

Marbled Clover

HELIOTHIS viriplaca (Hufnagel, 1766)
Picture
Kind permission - © Tim Norriss
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 30-36mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - missing from Russia North & Northwest,Ireland & Some Mediterranean Islands
UK Distribution: Breckland of Norfolk,Suffolk & Suffolk Coast,Wiltshire locally,N Hampshire intermittently,odd records which are possibly immigrants
UK Conservation Status -
  • RedList - GB - Pre94 - (RDB 3 - Rare) < 15 x 10km squares
  • Possible Migrant
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena viriplaca (Hufnagel,1766)
Type Species - Heliothis
Type Locality -
  • Not Specified
Flight Period: June to July & August - partially bivoltine
Habitat: Open breckland : Chalk Downland : Sand & Shingle Beaches : Farming set-aside
Similar Species -
  • Shoulder-striped Clover - Heliothis maritima - Graslin, 1855
Larva: The larva is either light Brown or green with darker dorsal line,whiteish subspiracular and subdorsal lines the former being slightly wider,spiracles pinkish ringed with black,head dark green or brownish green dotted with black.
Pupa: Formed in a cocoon just below the soil
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The moth is a red data book (1980/93) species occurs from the Brecklands of Norfolk to Hampshire,Wiltshire and East Gloucestershire.Recorded moth numbers appear to be declining in recent years.

The dark brown median band on this moth is slightly angled towards the basal area whilst the band of the similar species Shoulder-striped Clover is sharply inclined as well as having extra dark shoulder-stripes which are lacking in this moth (See first two photos in gallery).

The moth is a heavy feeder, found flying rapidly from flower to flower in sunny weather,Clover and Viper's Bugloss being a regular source of nectar.
The moth is also attracted to light.
Photo Gallery
First two photos shown median band difference between the two species
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.
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Type Species - HELIOTHIS:

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Literary Ref:

Type Locality:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Heliothinae
HELIOTHIS Ochsenheimer,1816
Heliothis viriplaca (Hufnagel, 1766)
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Phalaena dipsacea (Linnaeus, 1767)
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PHALAENA viriplaca (Hufnagel,1766)
= dipsacea (Linnaeus, 1767).
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HELIOTHIS - Ochsenheimer,1816
= Chazaria Moore 1881
= Rhodocleptria Hampson 1903
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Berlin. Magazin. 3 (4): Title Page : p.406- n.84
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Not Specified