- Mullein Moth
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Mullein moth 
Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Noctuidae Genus: Cucullia Species: C. verbasci Binomial name Cucullia verbasci
(Linnaeus, 1758)Synonyms Shargacucullia verbasci
The Mullein Moth Cucullia verbasci is a Noctuid moth and is considered a horticultural pest.
Mullein Moth caterpillars
Description - Ground colour pale straw to mid-brown. Larva is creamy with black and yellow spots.
Contents
Range
It is found in West, South and Central Europe and North Africa.
Status
Habitat - Scrub and gardens.
Habits - Completely strips leaves of host plant.
Life cycle
Egg
Eggs are laid singly on the under-surface of leaves of food-plants. Initially white, they turn grey before hatching.
Caterpillar
The caterpillar is the most commonly encountered part of the life cycle, clearly visible as it feeds on leaves of its host plants (Waring et al., 2003). In the UK at least, the caterpillar is distinctive (see images on this page), liable to confusion with only Water Betony (C. scrophulariae), which is a rare immigrant to the UK (Porter, 1997; Waring et al., 2003).
The fully grown caterpillar is 44–48 mm long (Porter, 1997).
Pupa
The pupa is the longest part of the life cycle (up to 5 years in captivity). It lives underground in a strong cocoon. (Waring et al., 2003)
Imago
The species displays much variation in size: wingspan ranges between 45 mm and 56 mm. They also show minor variation in colour.
Flight period
The moth flies from late April to June depending on the location.
Host-plants
- Buddleja – Buddleia, "butterfly bush"
- Himantoglossum hircinum – Lizard Orchid
- Scrophularia – figworts
- Verbascum – mulleins
Subspecies and variation
References
- Bretherton, R.F., B. Goater and R.I. Lorimer (1983) Noctuidae: Cucilliinae to Hypeninae. Pages 49–52 in John Heath, A. Maitland Emmet et al. (Ed.) The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 10: Noctuidae (Cucilliinae to Hypeninae) and Agaristidae. Harley Books, Colchester, UK.
- Waring, Paul, Martin Townsend and Richard Lewington (2003) Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. British Wildlife Publishing, Hook, UK. ISBN 0953139913
- Chinery, Michael Insects of Britain and Western Europe. Collins. ISBN 0002191377
External links
- UKMoths Mullein page
- Royal Horticultural Society advice on Mullein Moth pest control.
- English Nature page on Mullein Moth
- Caterpillar Hostplants Database
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