Noctuidae : Noctuinae
Double Square-spot
XESTIA (Megasema) triangulum (Hufnagel, 1766)
Double Square-spot
XESTIA (Megasema) triangulum (Hufnagel, 1766)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 36-46mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe to C.Siberia : N.Turkey : Transcaucasia : Caucasus
UK Distribution: A common resident found widespread throughout Great Britain,Ireland,Isle of Man & Channel Islands
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Grassland type habitats including-Gardens : Woodland : Pasture
Similar Species:-
Pupa: The larva spends about six weeks underground in a cocoon before pupating.
Overwinters as: Partially grown Larva
Observations: The Double Square-spot varies in colour from light greyish brown sometimes with a pinkish hue through to almost grey, with fairly broad forewings and markings that vary only slightly.
Although the Triple-spotted Clay X. ditrapezium has similar markings it is extremely rare here in Hampshire,with a flight season that only lasts from late June to early August making it highly unlikely to be confused with the common Double Square-spot X. triangulum.
Like many of the noctuids this moth is a regular at the light trap and is also attracted to sugar and flowers.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe to C.Siberia : N.Turkey : Transcaucasia : Caucasus
UK Distribution: A common resident found widespread throughout Great Britain,Ireland,Isle of Man & Channel Islands
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = >300 10Km Squares
- Least Concern
- Phalaena triangulum (Hufnagel, 1766)
- Noctua ochreago (Hübner, [1809])
- Not Specified
Habitat: Grassland type habitats including-Gardens : Woodland : Pasture
Similar Species:-
- Triple-spotted Clay Xestia ditrapezium ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
Pupa: The larva spends about six weeks underground in a cocoon before pupating.
Overwinters as: Partially grown Larva
Observations: The Double Square-spot varies in colour from light greyish brown sometimes with a pinkish hue through to almost grey, with fairly broad forewings and markings that vary only slightly.
Although the Triple-spotted Clay X. ditrapezium has similar markings it is extremely rare here in Hampshire,with a flight season that only lasts from late June to early August making it highly unlikely to be confused with the common Double Square-spot X. triangulum.
Like many of the noctuids this moth is a regular at the light trap and is also attracted to 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.
- Apiaceae - Umbelliferae - Umbellifer Family
- Ahriscus sylvestris - Cow Parsley
- Euphorbiaceae - Spurge Family
- Euphorbia amygdaloides - Wood Spurge
- Primulaceae - Primrose Family
- Primula vulgaris - Primrose
- Ranunculaceae - Buttercup - Crowfoot Family
- Ranunculus acris - Meadow Buttercup
- Rosaceae - Rose Family
- Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn - Sloe (Britain)
- Rubus idaeus - Raspberry - Framboise
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Tribe: Genus: Subgenus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - XESTIA: Original Species Name: Species Names: Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Noctuidae Noctuinae Noctuini XESTIA Hübner 1818 Megasema Hübner [1821] Xestia (Megasema) triangulum (Hufnagel,1766) - Noctua ochreago (Hübner,[1809]) - PHALAENA triangulum (Hufnagel, 1766) = Xestia rhomboidea Esper, 1790 = Phalaena triangulum Hufnagel, 1766 = intermedia Tutt, 1892 = obscurior Sälzl, 1928 = Xestia (Megasema) triangulum. - Berlin. Magazin. 3 (3): Title Page : p. 306 - n.58 - Berlin Region |