| Setaceous Hebrew Character | ||||||||||||||
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| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Xestia c-nigrum Linnaeus, 1758 |
The Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is a common species throughout Europe. The forewings of this species are reddish brown with distinctive patterning towards the base: a black mark rather like an angular letter c (or the Hebrew letter Nun) with a pale cream coloured area adjacent to this mark. The hindwings are cream coloured. The wingspan is 35-45 mm. Two broods are produced each year and the adults are on the wing between May and October. This moth flies at night and is attracted to light and sugar as well as flowers such as Buddleia, ivy and ragwort. The larva is pale brown or green with black spots. It feeds on a huge variety of plants (see list below). The species overwinters as a larva. A fictional story of how the moth received letter "nun" can be found at http://www.flwildflowers.com/moth.html
- ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.
Recorded food plants
- Acer - Maple
- Allium - Onion
- Apium - Celery
- Avena - Oat
- Beta - Beet
- Brassica
- Calendula - Marigold
- Chrysanthemum
- Cichorium - Chicory
- Cirsium - Creeping Thistle
- Comptonia - Sweetfern
- Daucus - Carrot
- Epilobium - Rosebay Willowherb
- Helianthus
- Hordeum - Barley
- Hypericum - St John's Wort
- Lactuca - Lettuce
- Lamium - Dead-nettle
- Lantana
- Linum
- Lobelia
- Lycopersicon - Tomato
- Malus - Apple
- Medicago - Alfalfa
- Myosotis - Forget-me-not
- Nicotiana - Tobacco
- Photinia
- Pisum - Pea
- Plantago - Plantain
- Platanus - Oriental Plane
- Primula
- Pyrus - Pear
- Rheum - Rhubarb
- Ribes - Currant
- Rumex
- Senecio - Groundsel
- Solanum - Potato
- Solidago - Goldenrod
- Spiraea
- Stellaria - Chickweed
- Taraxacum - Dandelion
- Thalictrum - Meadow-rue
- Trifolium - Clover
- Triticum - Wheat
- Urtica - Nettle
- Vaccinium
- Veratrum
- Viburnum
- Viola
- Vitis - Grape
- Zea - Maize
External links
References
- Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
- Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984
