Noctuidae : Hadeninae
Feathered Gothic
THOLERA decimalis (Poda, 1761)
Feathered Gothic
THOLERA decimalis (Poda, 1761)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 38-48mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe
UK Distribution: Southern Britain-common and well distributed : Ireland-Widespread : Scotland including Hebrides and Isle of Man-Local : Channel Islands-Local and occasional
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Gardens : Parks : Downland : Woodland Rides : Rough Grassland
Similar Species:-
Larva: The ground colour of this larva is dark brown with a series of narrow light brown lateral lines equi-spaced around the larva's body.
The larva feeds at night on the leaves before,as it gets larger,feeding close to the ground on the plant stem.
Overwinters as: Ovum
Observations: The off white veins along the forewings and the front facing arrowheads along the subterminal line distinguish this moth from most other species. Centrally disposed along the antemedial line at a pair of feather like shapes which face rearwards.
The reniform stigmata and orbicular spot are light brown with cetral darker brown markings and are highlighted with a black line.
The moth is broad and thickset with a straight costa,the male also has a feathered antennae.
The similar species the Bordered Gothic does not support the off white veins along the full length of the forewing and flies in June and July, which earlier than the Feathered Gothic.
The moth is attracted to the light trap.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe
UK Distribution: Southern Britain-common and well distributed : Ireland-Widespread : Scotland including Hebrides and Isle of Man-Local : Channel Islands-Local and occasional
UK Conservation Status -
- NERC S.41 : 2008 - Species of principle importance in England
- Common = >300 10Km Squares
- BAP : 2007 - Priority Species
- Least Concern
- Phalaena (Geometra) decimalis Poda, 1761
- Noctua cespitis ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
- Greece
Habitat: Gardens : Parks : Downland : Woodland Rides : Rough Grassland
Similar Species:-
- Bordered Gothic Heliophobus reticulata Goeze,1881
Larva: The ground colour of this larva is dark brown with a series of narrow light brown lateral lines equi-spaced around the larva's body.
The larva feeds at night on the leaves before,as it gets larger,feeding close to the ground on the plant stem.
Overwinters as: Ovum
Observations: The off white veins along the forewings and the front facing arrowheads along the subterminal line distinguish this moth from most other species. Centrally disposed along the antemedial line at a pair of feather like shapes which face rearwards.
The reniform stigmata and orbicular spot are light brown with cetral darker brown markings and are highlighted with a black line.
The moth is broad and thickset with a straight costa,the male also has a feathered antennae.
The similar species the Bordered Gothic does not support the off white veins along the full length of the forewing and flies in June and July, which earlier than the Feathered Gothic.
The moth is attracted to the light trap.
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.
- Poaceae - Gramineae - True Grasses Family
- Elymus repens - Couch grass
- Festuca ovina - Sheep's fescue
- Nardus stricta - Mat Grass
Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - THOLERA: Original Species Name: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Noctuidae Hadeninae Tholerini THOLERA Hübner [1821] Tholera decimalis (Poda, 1761) - Noctua cespitis ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775) - PHALAENA (Geometra) decimalis (Poda, 1761) = Bombyx popularis Fabricius, 1775 = Bombyx lolii Esper, 1785 = Phalaena typicoides Donovan, 1811 = Tholera popularis nervosa Zerny, 1927. - Insecta Musei Græcensis, quæ in ordines, genera et species juxta systema naturæ Caroli Linnæi : Title Page : p.92 - n.27 - Greece |