Noctuidae : Hadeninae
The Nutmeg
ANARTA (Calocestra) trifolii (Hufnagel, 1766)
The Nutmeg
ANARTA (Calocestra) trifolii (Hufnagel, 1766)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Alternative Name: Clover Cutworm
Wingspan: 30-35mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : Niger : Tunisia : Iran : Quebec
UK Distribution: Southern & South-east England-Common and widespread : Midlands/Wales Northwards to Southern Scotland-Local species : Ireland/Shetland-Rare : Isle of Man-local : Channel Isles-widespread and abundant
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Prefers open spaces : Gardens : Downland : Woodland : Fens : Waste ground
Similar Species:-
The larva feeds at night.
Pupa: Pupates in a fragile cocoon underground
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The kidney shaped lobe of the reniform stigmata facing the dorsum is always darker than the forewing ground colour whereas the orbicular spot is lighter.The forewing tends to be narrow with a straight termen.
Another feature in identifying this moth is the subterminal cross-line which is yellowish and forms two dentate type markings which when joined together produce the letter "W".
The forewing is light grey to dark brownish grey or sandy brown with grey markings.
The orbicular spot and reniform stigmata tend to be strongly edged in white which helps to identify the Nutmeg A. trifolii from its similar species the Dusky Brocade A.remissa and the letter "W" is only positively formed with this moth, the similar species failing to complete the letter "W"
It is possible this moth is an immigrant species as latter broods tend to be more numerous.
Like many of the other noctuids this moth is strongly attracted to the light trap,sugar and is fond of flowers.
Wingspan: 30-35mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : Niger : Tunisia : Iran : Quebec
UK Distribution: Southern & South-east England-Common and widespread : Midlands/Wales Northwards to Southern Scotland-Local species : Ireland/Shetland-Rare : Isle of Man-local : Channel Isles-widespread and abundant
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = >300 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena trifolii (Hufnagel, 1766)
- Phalaena myrtilli (Linnaeus, 1761)
- Germany-Berlin Region
Habitat: Prefers open spaces : Gardens : Downland : Woodland : Fens : Waste ground
Similar Species:-
- Dusky Brocade Apamea remissa f.obscura (Hübner, [1809])
The larva feeds at night.
Pupa: Pupates in a fragile cocoon underground
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The kidney shaped lobe of the reniform stigmata facing the dorsum is always darker than the forewing ground colour whereas the orbicular spot is lighter.The forewing tends to be narrow with a straight termen.
Another feature in identifying this moth is the subterminal cross-line which is yellowish and forms two dentate type markings which when joined together produce the letter "W".
The forewing is light grey to dark brownish grey or sandy brown with grey markings.
The orbicular spot and reniform stigmata tend to be strongly edged in white which helps to identify the Nutmeg A. trifolii from its similar species the Dusky Brocade A.remissa and the letter "W" is only positively formed with this moth, the similar species failing to complete the letter "W"
It is possible this moth is an immigrant species as latter broods tend to be more numerous.
Like many of the other noctuids this moth is strongly attracted to the light trap,sugar and is fond of flowers.
Photo Gallery
List : 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.
- Chenopodiaceae - Goosefoot Family
- Atriplex patula - Common Orache
- Chenopodium album - Lamb's Goosefoot - Fat-hen
- Alliaceae - Allium Family
- Allium cepa - Garden Onion
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Subgenus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - ANARTA: Original Species Name: Species Names Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Noctuidae Hadeninae Hadenini ANARTA Ochsenheimer 1816 calocestra Beck, 1991 Anarta (Calocestra) trifolii (Hufnagel, 1766) - Phalaena myrtilli (Linnaeus, 1761) - PHALAENA trifolii (Hufnagel, 1766) = Hadula latemarginata (Wiltshire, 1976) = Discestra trifolii latemarginata Wiltshire, 1976 = Hadula (Calocestra) latemarginata. - Berlin. Magazin 3 (4) : Title Page : p.398 - n.70 - Germany-Berlin Region |