Noctuidae : Xyleninae
The Dun-bar
COSMIA (Calymnia) trapezina (Linnaeus, 1758)
The Dun-bar
COSMIA (Calymnia) trapezina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 25-33mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe
UK Distridution: Widespread and frequent in England,Wales,Ireland-more common in east,lowland Scotland-recorded from Orkney to Shetland Isles : Isle of Man-local : Channel Isles-widespread and frequent
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Gardens : Hedgerows : Woodland-most common
Type Locality: Europe
Similar Species:-
Pupa: Pupates in a cocoon amongst plant debris on the ground
Overwinters as: Ova
Observations: As seen below the moth is variable in colour but can easily be recognised by the second fascia or cross-line which is obliques whereas the third is curved or angled. There is a third cross-line near the forewing base. The forewing ground colour tends to be light brown but as can be seen from photo 3 below some moths have a reddish forewing ground colour.
The Dun-bar larva is polyphagous feeding on the numerous variety of plant genera encompassed in many of the plant families but also is known to have cannibalistic tendencies, feeding on the larvae of other moth species,especially when captive bred.
As also seen below the moth is often recorded on the flowers of Hemp Agrimony (below) and also Ragwort.
The moth is also attracted to aphid honeydew or sugar and readily comes to light.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe
UK Distridution: Widespread and frequent in England,Wales,Ireland-more common in east,lowland Scotland-recorded from Orkney to Shetland Isles : Isle of Man-local : Channel Isles-widespread and frequent
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = >300 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena (Noctua) trapezina (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Phalaena diffinis (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Europe
Habitat: Gardens : Hedgerows : Woodland-most common
Type Locality: Europe
Similar Species:-
- Angle-striped Sallow Enargia paleacea (Esper, 1791)
Pupa: Pupates in a cocoon amongst plant debris on the ground
Overwinters as: Ova
Observations: As seen below the moth is variable in colour but can easily be recognised by the second fascia or cross-line which is obliques whereas the third is curved or angled. There is a third cross-line near the forewing base. The forewing ground colour tends to be light brown but as can be seen from photo 3 below some moths have a reddish forewing ground colour.
The Dun-bar larva is polyphagous feeding on the numerous variety of plant genera encompassed in many of the plant families but also is known to have cannibalistic tendencies, feeding on the larvae of other moth species,especially when captive bred.
As also seen below the moth is often recorded on the flowers of Hemp Agrimony (below) and also Ragwort.
The moth is also attracted to aphid honeydew or sugar and readily comes to light.
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.
- Aceraceae - Maple Family
- Acer platanoides - Norway Maple
- Betulaceae - The Birch Family
- Betula pendula - Silver Birch
- Betula pubescens - White Birch - Downy Birch
- Corylus avellana - Hazel
- Elaeagnaceae - Oleaster Family
- Hippophae rhamnoides - Sea Buckthorn
- Grossulariaceae - Currant Family
- Ribes alpinum - Alpine Currant
- Liliaceae - Lily Family
- Lillium martagon - Turk's Cap Lily
- Fagaceae - Oak - Chestnut - Beech Family
- Quercus robur - Pedunculate Oak - Common Oak
- Rhamnaceae - The Buckthorn Family
- Rhamnus cathartica - Common Buckthorn
- Rosaceae - Rose Family
- Malus pumila - Paradise Apple
- Prunus cerasus - Sour Cherry
- Prunus domestica - Bullace - Plum
- Prunus padus - Bird Cherry - Hackberry
- Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn - Sloe
- Pyrus communis - Wild Pear
- Sorbus aucuparia - Mountain Ash - Rowan
- Salicaceae - Willow Family
- Salix phylicifolia - Tealeaf Willow
- Tiliaceae - Lime - Linden Family
- Tilia cordata - Small-leaved Lime
- Tilia platyphyllos - Large-leaved Lime
- Ulmaceae - Elm Family
- Ulmus glabra - Wych Elm - Scots Elm
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
- Rosaceae - Alchemilla - Lady's mantles/Potentilla - Cinquefoils
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
- Ulmus glabra - Wych Elm - Scots Elm
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Subgenus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - COSMIA: Original Species Name: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: Subspecies: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Noctuidae Xyleninae Xylenini COSMIA Ochsenheimer, 1816 Calymnia Hübner, [1821] Cosmia (Calymnia) trapezina (Linnaeus, 1758) - Phalaena diffinis (Linnaeus, 1758) - PHALAENA (Noctua) trapezina (Linnaeus, 1758) = Phalaena rhombica Hufnagel, 1766 = Calymnia badiofasciata Teich, 1883. - Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title page : p.510 - n.73 - Europe - C.t.exigua Butler, 1881-South East Siberia |