73.274 : 2154 : 9987
Noctuidae : Hadeninae

Cabbage Moth

MAMESTRA brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 34-50mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - not Crete
UK Distribution: Common throughout the British Isles,Isle of Man and Ireland, but less so further north.Channel Isles - widespread and abundant
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Species - Mamestra
  • Phalaena brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Type Locality -
  • [Europe]
Flight Period: South - April to October - possibly three generations : North - June to July - single generation
Habitat: Gardens : Fields : Open Woodland
Similar Species -
  • Dot Moth - Melanchra persicariae (Linnaeus, 1761)
  • Dark Brocade - Blepharita adusta (Esper, 1790)
  • White Colon - Sideridis albicolon (Hübner, 1813)
Larva: The 45mm final instar is variable although the nominal larva viewed from the side has a yellowish green thin band running the full length through the spricles and is light green with dark green marking below and black above this band.Viewed from above is a central fine line with dots at the abdominal segments and two fine lateral lines positioned either side of the central line.Other larva are green on top or greyish red.The larvae are polyphagous feeding on a wide variety of plant genera.
Pupa: Overwinters mainly as a pupa in and underground cocoon , but sometimes as a larva
Overwinters as: Pupa,sometimes larva
Observations: This species of moth can be clearly defined by the white edging towrds the rear of the reniform stigmata and the white edging to the black terminal line which also forms a letter "W" about one third in from the dorsum.
The orbicular spot is highlighted by black edging on the front and rear of the spot and also the front of the stigmata.
The ground colour of the forewings is brownish grey with some specimens being more blackish or paler.

The similar species White Colon has only a colon mark towards the rear of the stigmata the rest being undefined,and the Dark Brocade has a black vertical bar which connects to postmedial and antemedial cross-lines.
Similar to Dot Moth but is less black.

The moth is attracted to light and usually is found at the moth trap in small numbers.
The moth is also attracted to sugar and feeds on 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 - MAMESTRA:

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Literary Ref:

Type Locality:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Hadeninae
Hadenini
MAMESTRA Ochsenheimer 1816
Mamestra brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Phalaena brassicae ( Linnaeus, 1758)
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PHALAENA (Noctua) brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758)
= Phalaena Noctua brassicae Linnaeus, 1758
= Phalaena omicron Geoffrey, 1785
= Noctua albidilinea Haworth, 1809
= Hybobarathra unicolor Marumo, 1917
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Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title Page : p.516 - n.111
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[Europe]