73.271 : 2163 : 9985
Noctuidae : Hadeninae

Broom Moth

CERAMICA pisi (Linnaeus, 1758)
Picture
Kind permission - © Tim Norriss
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 33 - 42mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - less Canary Isles,Portugal,S Russia,Sicily and most Mediterranean Islands - east across Palearctic to Siberia and Russian Far East. Northerly beyond Arctic Circle and southerly to N Spain
UK Distribution: Great Britain,Ireland ,Isle of Man - found throughout : Channel Isles - widespread and frequent
UK Conservation Status - UK BAP - Melanchre pisi
  • 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) pisi (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Species - Ceramica
  • Ceramica exusta Guenée, 1852
Type Locality -
  • Europe
Flight Period: South - early May - late August : Elsewhere - late May - July
Habitat: Heathland : Moorland : Gardens
Similar Species -
  • Bright-line Brown-eye - Lacanobia oleracea - (Linnaeus, 1758)
Larva: The 45mm final instar larva is dark green or brown with yellow stripes edged with white subdorsally and along the spiracles. Head brownish green or pale brown
Pupa: Pupates in cocoon beneath soil
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: An easy moth to identify by the subterminal line which is irregular and creamy white with dark arrowhead marks or blotches on the inner edge.
The forewing colour ranges from pale to dark reddish brown or dark purplish brown.
Both the antemedian and postmeadian lines are darkish ground colour with white edges facing inwards basallly and outwards terminally.
The similar moth L.oleracea is similar but with a straighter subterminal line carrying white stripes to the termen.

The moth is attracted to light,sugar and flowers.
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.
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Type Species - CERAMICA:

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Literary Ref:

Type Locality:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Hadeninae
Hadenini
CERAMICA Guenée 1852
Ceramica pisi (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Ceramica exusta Guenée, 1852
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PHALAENA (Noctua) pisi (Linnaeus, 1758)
= Melanchra pisi
= Phalaena pisi Linnaeus, 1758
= Phalaena Noctua pisi Linnaeus, 1758
= Polia pisi nyiwonis Matsumura, 1925
= Polia pisi pisella Bryk, 1941
= Polia pisi pardoi Agenjo, 1945
= Lacanobia pisi
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Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title Page : p.517 - n.115
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Europe