73.225 : 2248 : 9699
Noctuidae : Xyleninae

Brindled Green

DRYOBOTODES eremita (Fabricius, 1775)
Picture
Kind permission - © Tim Norriss
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 32-39mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe east to Turkey
UK Distribution: Southern England and Wales-well distributed : Northern England,mainland Scotland-local : Isle of Man-local & rare : Ireland-local : N Ireland-found widely : Channel Isles-rare
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Noctua eremita (Fabricius, 1775)
Type Species - Dryobotodes
  • Noctua protea ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
Type Locality -
  • Germany-Leipzig
Flight Period: August to October-single generation
Habitat: Broadleaved woodland : Gardens : Parks
Similar Species -
  • None
Larva: The 40mm long final istar larva is green and covered in yellow dots.Viewed from side-single thin yellow lateral line passes through the spiracles. Viewed on top-has centrally positioned, broader yellow lateral line. Larva-April to June. Feeds at first inside bud ,later at night,hiding by day in a spun terminal shoot.
Pupa: Pupates underground in a cocoon
Overwinters as: Ovum-deposited in small batches on oak twigs
Observations: This beautiful moth have forewings marked with different shades of green interlaced with mottling in black,brown,white,pinkish or grey.In the centre of the forewing with the moth positioned as photos 2 & 4 there are back markings that forms the letter "M" with the vertical legs splaying outwards at the base. (See 2 & 4)

The moth has no similar species and is easily identified even though the moth can be quite variable with the wing markings as can be seen in the photos below.

As a late moth it takes advantage of the overipe blackberries found late in the season and is also a regular visitor to the light trap but never in large numbers.The moth is also attracted to sugar.
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.
Taxonomy
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Type Species - DRYOBOTODES:

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Type Locality:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Xyleninae
Xylenini
DRYOBOTODES Warren 1911
Dryobotodes eremita (Fabricius, 1775)
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Noctua protea ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
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NOCTUA eremita (Fabricius, 1775)
= Noctua seladonia Fabricius, 1794
= Noctua protea Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
= Dryobotodes (Dryobotodes) eremita.
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Systema entomologiae, sistens insectorvm classes, ordines, genera, species, adiectis synonymis, locis, descriptionibvs, observationibvs. -  Flensbvrgi, Lipsiae. in officina libraria Kort : Fabricius, Johann Christian 1775 : Title Page : p.616 - n.110
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Germany-Leipzig