73.361 : 2128 : 10,201
Noctuidae : Noctuinae

Double Square-spot

XESTIA (Megasema) triangulum (Hufnagel, 1766)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
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 -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status -
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena triangulum (Hufnagel, 1766)
Type Species - Xestia
  • Noctua ochreago (Hübner, [1809])
Type Locality -
  • Not Specified
Flight Period: South-Late May-Late September : Elsewhere-Late July-early October
Habitat: Grassland type habitats including-Gardens : Woodland : Pasture
Similar Species:-
  • Triple-spotted Clay Xestia ditrapezium ([Denis & Schiffermüller],1775)
Larva: The 40mm long final instar larva is variable between brown to ruddy dark brown and in some cases almost black viewed from above. Viewed from the top traversing from head backwards is a double line of abdominal segment black marking which increase in size towards the rear of the larva. In some cases the markings only appear in the last two or three abdominal segments at rear of larva and are always almost invisible at the front of the larva. The singly brooded larval stage is between August and May in the south of the country and September to April elsewhere.The larva feeds by night in warm weather becoming fuly grown March to April the following year.
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.
Larval Food Plants
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