Noctuidae : Hadeninae
Lead-coloured Drab
ORTHOSIA (Monima) populeti (Fabricius, 1781)
Lead-coloured Drab
ORTHOSIA (Monima) populeti (Fabricius, 1781)
Kind permission - © Tim Norriss
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 34-40mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - not Portugal,Ireland,Greece and some Mediterranean Islands
UK Distribution: South & South-east England, north to Midlands - Widespread : Wales & central Scotland - Widespread : Northern England & central Highlands - Local : Ireland - very local
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Broadleaved Woodland : Gardens : Parks : Where the larval food plant is found
Similar Species-
Pupa: Pupates under moss or soil until the following spring
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: Although similar to the Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta (Hufnagel, 1766) there are defining features which will help in identifying this moth.The moth has less variable markings ,has a rounded forewing and a row of well defined subterminal spots which vary in length along this line.
Another defining mark which occurs in many of the moths is a much darker reniform stigmata on the dorsum side of the kidney shape.
The nominal ground colour for this moth is normally pale leaden grey as the name suggests, to blackish grey with some individuals tending more to the ruddy brown colour of the similar species.
Moth is attracted to light and feeds on Sallow catkins.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - not Portugal,Ireland,Greece and some Mediterranean Islands
UK Distribution: South & South-east England, north to Midlands - Widespread : Wales & central Scotland - Widespread : Northern England & central Highlands - Local : Ireland - very local
UK Conservation Status -
- Local = 101-300 10Km squares
- Least Concern
- Bombyx populeti (Fabricius, 1775)
- Noctua instabilis (Denis & Schiffermüller,[1775])
- Norway ("Norwagia")
Habitat: Broadleaved Woodland : Gardens : Parks : Where the larval food plant is found
Similar Species-
- Clouded Drab - Orthosia incerta (Hufnagel, 1766)
Pupa: Pupates under moss or soil until the following spring
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: Although similar to the Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta (Hufnagel, 1766) there are defining features which will help in identifying this moth.The moth has less variable markings ,has a rounded forewing and a row of well defined subterminal spots which vary in length along this line.
Another defining mark which occurs in many of the moths is a much darker reniform stigmata on the dorsum side of the kidney shape.
The nominal ground colour for this moth is normally pale leaden grey as the name suggests, to blackish grey with some individuals tending more to the ruddy brown colour of the similar species.
Moth is attracted to light and feeds on Sallow catkins.
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.
- Salicaceae - Willow Family
- Populus alba - White Poplar
- Populus nigra - Black Poplar - Lombardy Poplar (ssp italia)
- Populus tremula - Aspen Poplar
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Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Subgenus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - ORTHOSIA: Original Species Names: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Noctuidae Hadeninae Orthosiini ORTHOSIA Ochsenheimer 1816 Monima Hübner 1821 Orthosia (Monima) populeti (Fabricius, 1781) - Noctua instabilis (Denis & Schiffermüller,[1775]) - BOMBYX populeti (Fabricius, 1775) = Bombyx populeti Fabricius, 1781 = Phalaena Noctua populi Ström, 1783 = Bombyx subplumbeus Haworth, 1803 = Orthosia intermedia Stephens, 1829 = Orthosia ocularis Freyer, 1833 - Species insectorvm exhibentes eorvm differentias specificas, synonyma avctorvm, loca natalia, metamorphosin adiectis observationibvs, descriptionibvs. Tom. II. - pp. [1], 1-517. Hambvrgi, Kilonii. (Bohn) : Title Page : p.201 - n.135 - Norway ("Norwagia") |