Noctuidae : Noctuinae
Light Feathered Rustic
AGROTIS cinerea ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Light Feathered Rustic
AGROTIS cinerea ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Kind permission - © Tim Norriss
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 33 - 40mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - less (Channel Isles,Luxembourg,Portugal & Mediterranean Islands) : N.Turkey : Caucasus : W.Turkmenia : Armenia : C.Asia
UK Distribution: S. England,S.Wales,scattered colonies northwards to Derbyshire,Staffordshire border,Great Orme's Head N Wales - widespread and quite well distributed
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Chalk and Limestone Grasslands : Quarries : Slag Heaps : Coastal Cliffs : Shingle Beaches
Similar Species -
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: Even though this moth has various colour forms it is fairly easily to separate from other "Agrostis" species by the dentate antemedian and postmedian lines and very unclear orbicular spots.The forewings are light chalky or bluish grey in the southern England and Wales whereas further north they tend to be slate grey,brown or blackish but still with positive cross lines and rounded termen.
The reniform stimata also varies in clarity with some sharply marked and others like below being less clear.
The female is smaller than the male.
The moth is attracted to light,especially the male and are known to feed on flowers.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - less (Channel Isles,Luxembourg,Portugal & Mediterranean Islands) : N.Turkey : Caucasus : W.Turkmenia : Armenia : C.Asia
UK Distribution: S. England,S.Wales,scattered colonies northwards to Derbyshire,Staffordshire border,Great Orme's Head N Wales - widespread and quite well distributed
UK Conservation Status -
- Nationally Scarce B (Nb - BAP : 1997) = 31 - 100 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Noctua cinerea Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
Type Species - Agrotis - Noctua segetum Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
- Austria - Vienna Region
Habitat: Chalk and Limestone Grasslands : Quarries : Slag Heaps : Coastal Cliffs : Shingle Beaches
Similar Species -
- None
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: Even though this moth has various colour forms it is fairly easily to separate from other "Agrostis" species by the dentate antemedian and postmedian lines and very unclear orbicular spots.The forewings are light chalky or bluish grey in the southern England and Wales whereas further north they tend to be slate grey,brown or blackish but still with positive cross lines and rounded termen.
The reniform stimata also varies in clarity with some sharply marked and others like below being less clear.
The female is smaller than the male.
The moth is attracted to light,especially the male and are known to feed on flowers.
Photo Gallery
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.
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.
- Asteraceae - Compositae - Aster-Daisy - Sunflower Family
- Taraxacum officinale - Common Dandelion
- Caryophyllaceae - Pink and Carnation Family
- Stellaria media - Chickweed
- Fabaceae - Leguminosea - Pulse - Bean - Pea - Legumes
- Medicago sativa - Alfalfa
- Lamiaceae - Labiatae - The Mint Family
- Thymus polytrichus ssp britanicus - Wild Thyme
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
- Polygonaceae - Rumex - Dock
- Plantaginaceae - Plantago - Plantain
- Asteraceae - Compositae - Leontodon - Hawkbits
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant families
- Thymus polytrichus ssp britanicus - Wild Thyme
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - AGROTIS: Original Species Name: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Noctuidae Noctuinae Noctuini AGROTIS Ochsenheimer, 1816 Agrotis cinerea Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775 - NOCTUA segetum Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775 - NOCTUA cinerea Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775 = Noctua obscura Hübner, [1803] = Bombyx denticulatus Haworth, 1803 = Agrotis fusca Boisduval, [1837] - Ankündung eines systematischen Werkes von den Schmetterlingen der Wienergegend : Title Page : p.80 - n3 - Austria-Vienna Region |