Broad-barred White

Broad-barred White
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Hecatera
Species: H. bicolorata
Binomial name
Hecatera bicolorata
Hufnagel, 1766
Synonyms
  • Phalaena bicolorata
  • Aetheria bicolorata
  • Noctua serena
  • Noctua hieracii
  • Polia leuconota
  • Phalaena par
  • Hecatera intermedia
  • Noctua monticola
  • Mamestra serena var. obscura

The Broad-barred White (Hecatera bicolorata) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is distributed throughout Europe and is also found in Turkey, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Kirghizia, Tajikistan, western Siberia and China.

This is a fairly small (wingspan 28-35 mm) but distinctive species, the white forewings marked with a broad dark brown band. The hindwings are grey with blackish fringes. This species flies at night from June to August [1] and is attracted to light and various flowers.

The larva is brown or green with darker diamonds along the back. It feeds on the flowers and buds of various yellow-flowered Asteraceae such as hawksbeards, hawkweeds and sow thistles. The species overwinters as a pupa.

External links

Notes and references

  1. ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.