73.328 : 2098 : 10,082
Noctuidae : Noctuinae

The Flame

AXYLIA putris (Linnaeus, 1761)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 27-32mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : India : Java
UK Distribution: Resident : Common throughout Southern Britain,Isle of Man and Ireland : Scotland-local,mainly found in South and South West : Channel Island-widespread and frequent.
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status - 
Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena putris (Linnaeus, 1761)
Type Species - Axylia
  • Phalaena putris (Linnaeus,1761)
Type Locality -
  • in hortis
Flight Period: South-mid May-Mid September with partial second brood : Elsewhere-June-July
Habitat: Moth can be found on wide range of habitats including-Gardens : Downland : Agricultural land : Heathland : Hedgerows : Woodland Edges
Similar Species -
  • None
Larva: The 30mm long final instar larva looks short and fat and has a hump just behind the three pairs of rear thoracic legs when viewed from side.The base colour is light brown with a lighter brown lateral line across the spiracles which gradually widens from the head towards the anal prolegs.Viewed from above are a few lighter coloured short rearward facing chevrons which only cover about a third of the width from the outside of the larva.Towards the rear in this view are two darker facing opposed diamond patterns forming a 90˚ along and across the larva.
Larva stage is usually July-October. Feeds at night.
Pupa: Pupates underground
Overwinters as: Pupa : Pupates in the ground
Observations: This moth is possibly one of the easiest to identify both by its colouration and its tendency to fold its wings, giving the appearance of a dried up leaf or broken stem.
Although other noctuids are similarly coloured this moth is the only one which has a strongly tinged reddish brown costal fringe against the straw coloured forewing background with almost black kidney shaped reniform stigmata.
Subterminal and and postmedian cross-lines are formed by a series of intermittent black dots.

Like many other noctuids The Flame A. putris is a regular at the  moth light trap and is also attracted by 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 - AXYLIA:

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Literary Ref:

Type Locality:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Noctuinae
Noctuini
AXYLIA Hübner [1821]
Axylia putris (Linnaeus, 1761)
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Phalaena putris Linnaeus, 1761
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= PHALAENA putris (Linnaeus, 1761)
= Phalaena subcorticalis Hufnagel, 1766
= Noctua lignosa Hübner, 1803
= Axylia triseriata Moore, 1888
= Rhyacia mundipennis Warren, 1912.
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Fauna Suecica (Edn 2 enlarged) : Title Page : p.315 - n.1187
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in hortis