73.252 : 2177 : 10,064

Noctuidae : Hadeninae

Hedge Rustic

THOLERA cespitis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Kind permission - © Tim Norriss

Life Cycle Guide

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Description

Wingspan: 34-40mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe less some Mediterranean Islands to Altai Mountains - Siberia
UK Distribution: England,Wales,Ireland,Isle of Man - Common : E & W Scotland,Hebrides - local : Channel Isles - Jersey - frequent,Guernsey - rare
UK Conservation Status -

• Common = > 300 10km squares
• BAP : 2007 - Priority Species
• 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

European Conservation Status -

• Least Concern

Original Species Name -

• Phalaena (Noctua) cespitis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Type Species -

• Noctua cespitis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Type Locality -

• Austria - near Vienna

Flight Period: August - September
Habitat: Rough Grassy Places : Open Grasslands : Gardens
Similar Species -

• None

Larva: Larva feeds on various grasses.The 36mm final instar larva is brown and glossy with clearly defined lighter dorsal,subdorsal and spiracular lines. The head is pale brown marked with black. There are lighter coloured flecks all over the larva
Pupa: Pupa formed in earthen cell
Overwinters as: Ovum
Observations: A fairly distinguished moth with a broad blackish forewing with reniform stigmata and orbicular spot highlighted with a thin white line. The subterminal line is wavy and blackish with white edging. The antemedian and postmedian lines are black with white edging and wrap themselves around the stigmata and orbicular spot.
The males have white hindwing whereas the females hindwing is greyish.

The moth is a species of conservation concern under the UK biodiversity Action Plan for England,Wales and Ireland as shown above.

The moth is attracted to light and to sugar.

Photo Gallery

Hedge Rustic -Tholera cespitis - ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - Holmsley - 16 September 2003 - © Tim Norriss

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.

• Poaceae - Gramineae - True Grasses Family
  • Calamagrostis purpurea - Scandinavian Small-reed
    
  • Deschampsia flexuosa - Wavy Hair-grass 
    
  • Festuca rubra - Red Fescue - Creeping Red Fescue
    
  • Nardus stricta - Mat Grass - Moor Matgrass
    

Taxonomy

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Type Species - THOLERA:

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Subspecies:

Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Hadeninae
Tholerini
THOLERA Hübner 1821
Tholera cespitis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
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Noctua cespitis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
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PHALAENA (Noctua) cespitis ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
= Noctua hordei Schrank, 1801
= Agrotis autumnalis Stephens, 1827
= Charaeas confinis Stephens, 1829
= Apamea chloris Milliére, 1883
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Ankündung eines systematischen Werkes von den Schmetterlingen der Wienergegend : Title Page :  p.82 - n.2
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Austria - near Vienna
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T.c.armena Hacker, 1986
T.c.cespitis ([Denis & Schiffermüller,]1775) - nominate subspecies