Xestia agathina

Xestia agathina
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Xestia
Species: X. agathina
Binomial name
Xestia agathina
(Esper, 1790)
Synonyms
  • Noctua agathina Duponchel, 1827

The Heath Rustic (Xestia agathina) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in Western and Central Europe and Morocco.

Technical Description and variation

See glossary for terms used

The wingspan is 28–36 mm. Forewing greyish rufous; costal area paler for 2/3, edged below at base by a fine dark streak; claviform stigma small and obscure; cell black brown; the two stigmata pale, orbicular variable, sometimes large, sometimes contracted to a white spot; hindwing dark grey; antennae of male serrate, with sessile fascicles of cilia.In the form hebridicola Stgr., from the Hebrides, the forewing becomes paler and loses the red tinge; in scopariae Mill, from France the red tinge is overpowered by black suffusion..[1]

Biology

Adults are on wing from in September.

Habitat

Larva green, with pale dark-edged lines, the spiracular broad and conspicuous.The larvae feed on Calluna species.

References

  1. Seitz, A. Ed., 1914 Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde, Verlag Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart Band 3: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen eulenartigen Nachtfalter, 1914

External links

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