73.182 : 2274 : 9559
Noctuidae : Xyleninae

Sallow

CIRRHIA icteritia (Hufnagel, 1766)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 34-38mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - less most Mediterranean Islands.
UK Distribution: Well distributed and frequent throughout most of Great Britain,Ilse of Man and Ireland : Channel Isles - local and occasional
UK Conservation Status - (Under Xanthia icteritia)
  • 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
  • BAP : 2007 - Priority Species
  • Nationally Scarce B (Nb - BAP : 1997) = 31 - 100 10Km Squares
  • Common = > 300 10km squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena icteritia (Hufnagel, 1766)
Type Species -
  • Phalaena fulvago Clerck, sensu Linnaeus, 1761
Type Locality -
  • Near Vienna
Flight Period: South - mid August - mid November : North - August - September
Habitat: Broadleaved Woodland : Heathland : Moorland : Marshes : Fens : Gardens
Similar Species -
  • Pink-barred Sallow - Xanthia togata - (Esper, 1788)
  • Dusky-lemon Sallow - Cirrhia gilvago -  ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
  • Angle-striped Sallow - Enargia paleacea - (Esper, 1791)
Larva: The 32mm final instar larva is variable with Purplish brown or paler brown body with a fine fairly indistinct white dorsal line and feint subdorsal lines.The spiracular line in the lighter bodied specimens is indistinct whilst with the darker specimens it is thin and white.The head is light brown and the prothoracic plate is darker brown with white subdorsal lines.
Pupa: Pupates beneath soil in a cocoon
Overwinters as: Ovum
Observations: The similar species Pink-barred Sallow can be identified by a slightly hooked forewing at the apex with a yellow reniform stigmata enclosed by reddish brown markings in the median area and thorax tufts same yellowish orange colour as the forewing background.
The Dusky-lemon Sallow forewing termen is more rounded than this moth and the reniform stigmata is highlighted in black with a black patch in one lobe and the orbicular spot also highlighted in the same way.The thorax tufts can be marked with black patches.
The Angle-striped Sallow is similar to ab. flavescens Esper [1788] but has the reniform stigamta and orbicular spot highlighted with darker orangery yellow being the colour of all the marking on this moth.Antemedian and post median lines are also shaped across the forewing like the letter "W"
The forewings of this moth are narrower than other "Sallow" moths with the costa rounding sharply at the apex where the termen starts convex before straightening.The reniform stigmata in the nominate form is almost invisible,hidden within the reddish brown median markings.
The ab. flavescens Esper [1788] does not have any reddish brown markings although black discal spots are prominent with cross lines showing in yellowish orange and wavy.

The moth is attracted to ivy flowers and overipe Blackberries being an autumn species and is also attracted to light and sugar.

Photo Gallery
Abberations
C.i.ab. flavescens Esper [1788]
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
Kingdom:
Subkingdom:
Phylum:
Subphylum:
Class:
Order:
Superfamily:
Family:
Subfamily:
Tribe:
Genus:
Accepted Species Name:

Type Species - CIRRHIA:

Original Species Name:
Species Names:






Literary Ref:

Type Locality:

Abberations:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Xyleninae
Xylenini
CIRRHIA Hübner 1823
Cirrhia icteritia (Hufnagel, 1766)
-
Phalaena fulvago Clerck, sensu Linnaeus, 1761
-
PHALAENA icteritia (Hufnagel, 1766)
= Cirrhia icteritia (Hufnagel, 1766)
= Phalaena icteritia Hufnagel, 1766
= Noctua cerago Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
= Phalaena (Noctua) flavescens Esper, 1788
= asiatica Hampson, 1906
= Xanthia (Cirrhia) icteritia
-
Berlin. Magazin. 3 (3) : Title Page :  p.296 - n.43
-
Berlin Region
-
C.i.ab.flavescens Esper [1788] - no brown markings,clearly marked black orbicular spots.