Square-spot Rustic

Taxobox
name = Square-spot Rustic

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image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
familia = Noctuidae
genus = "Xestia"
species = "X. xanthographa"
binomial = "Xestia xanthographa"
binomial_authority = Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775The Square-spot Rustic ("Xestia xanthographa") is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is distributed throughout Europe.

This is a very variable species, the forewings occurring in various shades of grey or brown, with melanic forms common in parts of its range. The best identifying feature is the large, pale, squarish stigma which gives the species its common name. The hindwings are pale to dark grey with a whitish fringe. The wingspan is 30-40 mm. This moth flies at night from July to September ref|flight_season and is attracted to light and sugar. It also visits flowers such as heather, marram grass and ragwort.

The larva feeds on a variety of plants such as bedstraw, oak and willow, as well as various grasses. The species overwinters as a larva, remaining active and feeding throughout.

#Note|flight_season"The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range."

External links

* [http://www.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/noctuoidea/noctuidae/noctuinae/xestia/index.html#xanthographa Square-spot Rustic at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera pages]

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