73.092 : 2387 : 9417
Noctuidae : Xyleninae

Mottled Rustic

CARADRINA (Caradrina) morpheus (Hufnagel, 1766)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 28-35mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : Transcaucasus : Kazakhstan : Kirghizstan : Altai : SW.Siberia
UK Distribution: England,lowland Wales,Isle of Man,Channel Isles, Ilse of Scilly - Well distributed,frequent,even abundant : Ireland and Scotland - local
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
  • BAP : 2007 - Priority Species 
  • NERC S.41 : 2008 (England) & NERC S.42 : 2009 (Wales) - Species "of principle importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity"
  • Northern Ireland : 2010 - Priority Species
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena morpheus (Hufnagel, 1766)
Type Species - Caradrina
  • Phalaena morpheus (Hufnagel, 1766)
Type Locality -
  • Germany - Berlin Region
Flight Period: South - May to August,possible second generation in September/October : Elsewhere - June to mid August - single generation
Habitat: Gardens : Grassland : Heathland : Farmland : Coastal Habitats
Similar Species -
  • Vine's Rustic  Hoplodrina ambigua ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775
  • The Uncertain Hoplodrina octogenaria ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
  • The Rustic Hoplodrina blanda ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Pupa: Overwinters as a fully grown larva in a cocoon and pupates in the spring
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: The diagnostic marks on this moth are both the stigmata and orbicular spots which are both broad and dark and not clearly defined.Other markings are similar to the three similar species shown above.
The forewing is brown to dark brown with the dotted antemedial,postmedial and terminal lines in dark brown.On some moths there is a darkish brown band running through the median area which turn at 45º half way across the wing and run through the stigmata.
The hindwing is whiter than the Rustic and Uncertain.

The moth is attracted to light and feeds on sugar and flowers.
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.
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Type Species - CARADRINA:

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Literary Ref:

Type Locality:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Xyleninae
Caradrinini
CARADRINA Ochsenheimer 1816
Caradrina Ochsenheimer, 1816
Caradrina (Caradrina) morpheus (Hufnagel, 1766)
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Phalaena morpheus (Hufnagel, 1766)
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PHALAENA morpheus (Hufnagel, 1766)
= Phalaena (Noctua) pulla Beckwith, 1794
= Noctua sepii Hübner, [1803]
= Athetis dresnayi Lucas, 1933
= Athetis morpheus alpina Hartig, [1938]
= Caradrina morphes
= Caradrina (Caradrina) morpheus
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Berlin. Magazin. 3 (3): Title Page : p. 302 n.52
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Germany - Berlin Region