Neglected Rustic

Noctuidae : Noctuinae

Neglected Rustic

XESTIA (Xestia) castanea (Esper, 1798)

Kind permission - © Tim Norriss

Life Cycle Guide

Description

Wingspan: 36 - 42mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe - less E,S & N Russia,Ukraine & most Mediterranean Islands : N Africa - Morocco : Turkey : Lebanon : Syria
UK Distribution: S & SW England,Wales,N Midlands,N England,Isle of Man - local : Scotland - widespread
UK Conservation Status -

Local = 101 - 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) castanea (Esper, 1798)

Type Species - Xestia

Noctua ochreago (Hübner,[1809])

Type Locality -

Europe - "Bluthen"

Flight Period: August - September/October
Habitat: Heathland : Moorland : Bogs
Similar Species -

Square-spot Rustic - Xestia xanthographa - ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Larva: The 36mm final instar larva is green or reddish brown with fine light dorsal line and broad white spiracular stripe.
Pupa: Pupates in loose soil
Overwinters as: Larva
Observations: This moth is an unmistakable,finely marked moth with the diagnostic feature being the black mark in the reniform stigmata on the distal side.The moth is variable in ground colour from light greyish brown to reddish brown . The hindwing is grey,often with whitish,pinkish or grey-pink fringes.
From the north Midland and Wales northwards the red forms tend to predominate with the darker specimens occuring in Scotland alththough here in NE Hampshire both colour forms occur.

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.

Caryophyllaceae - Pink - Carnation Family
- Stellaria media - Chickweed
Ericaceae - Heather Family
- Calluna vulgaris - Common Heather - Ling
- Erica cinerea - Bell Heather - Heather Bell
- Erica tetralix - Cross leaved Heath - Bog Heather
- Vaccinium myrtilus - Bilberry - Blue Whortleberry
Fabaceae - Leguminosea - The Pulse - Bean - Pea - Legume Family
- Cytisus scoparius - Broom - Scotch Broom
Poaceae - Gramineae - True Grasses Family
- Deschampsia flexuosa - Wavy Hair-grass
Rosaceae - Rose Family
- Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn - Sloe (Britain)
Salicaceae - Willow Family
- Populus tremula - Aspen Poplar
- Salix caprea - Goat Willow

Larval Food Plants

Taxonomy

Kingdom:
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Accepted Species Name:

Type Species - XESTIA:

Original Species Name:
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Literary Ref:

Type Locality:

Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Noctuinae
Noctuini
XESTIA Hübner, 1818
Xestia Hübner, 1818
XESTIA (Xestia) castanea (Esper, 1798)
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Noctua ochreago (Hübner,[1809])
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PHALAENA (Noctua) castanea (Esper, 1798)
= Noctua neglecta Hübner, [1803]
= Cerastis cerasina Freyer, 1840
= Agrotis obsolescens Petersen, 1905
= syriae Strand, 1916
= Rhyacia castanea alliatai Hertig, 1949
= Xestia (Xestia) castanea
= laevis
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Die Schmetterlinge in Abbildungen nach der Natur - Vol. IV, Part.2 : Title Page : p.27 - Noct 108
Die Schmetterlinge in Abbildungen nach der Natur - Volume v5 (plates) : Tab. CLXXXV11 - f.8-11
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Europe - "Bluthen"