73.233 : 2232 : 9651
Noctuidae : Xyleninae

Black Rustic

APOROPHYLA (Phylapora) nigra (Haworth, 1809)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 40-46mm
Worldwide Distribution: Southern and Central Europe
UK Distribution: Well distributed in most of Great Britain but local in East Anglia,Midlands & north east England : Ireland,Isle of Man & Channel Isles-widespread and frequent
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
Original Species Name -
  • Noctua nigra (Haworth, 1809)
Type Species - Aporophyla
  • Xylina australis (Boisduval, 1829)
Type Locality -
  • England
Flight Period: South-end August to mid November : Elsewhere-September to October
Habitat: Heathland : Gardens : Roadside verges : Open woodland : Moorland : Clacareous grassland
Similar Species -
  • None
Larva: Two main colour versions of final instar larva - Green with yellowish lateral line through the spiracles and reddish brown with same lateral line. Spiracles sometimes highlighted in black. Larva feeds at night and hides during the day in the vegetation.
Pupa: Pupates underground
Overwinters as: Small larva
Observations: The moth is easy to identify in its deep black or brownish black glossy sheen.
The main and only real feature is the orangery short line that partially surrounds the reniform stigmata and the orbicular spot that shows clearly as dark grey.

The moth is a regular visitor to the light trap and is also attracted to sugar. Being late in the season the moth also takes advantage of overripe blackberries and Ivy blossom.
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
Kingdom:
Subkingdom:
Phylum:
Subphylum:
Class:
Order:
Superfamily:
Family:
Subfamily:
Tribe:
Genus:
Subgenus:
Accepted Species Name:

Type Species - APOROPHYLA:

Original Species Name:
Species Names:




Nominotypical Subspecies:

Literary Ref

Type Locality:

Subspecies:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Xyleninae
Xylenini
APOROPHYLA Guenée 1841
Phylapora Berio 1980
Aporophyla (Phylapora) nigra (Haworth, 1809)
-
Xylina australis (Boisduval, 1829)
-
NOCTUA nigra (Haworth, 1809)
= Phalaena Noctua lunula Ström, 1768 
= Noctua nigricans Hübner, 1813
= aethiops Ochsenheimer, 1816
= Aporophyla (Phylapora) nigra.
-
NOCTUA nigra nigra (Haworth, 1809)
-
Lepidoptera Britannica (3): Title Page : p.192 - n.89
-
England
-
A.n. cinerea Staudinger, 1901-Spain : Libya