Helotropha leucostigma

Helotropha leucostigma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Helotropha
Species: H. leucostigma
Binomial name
Helotropha leucostigma
Hübner, 1808
Synonyms
  • Noctua leucostigma
  • Noctua fibrosa
  • Noctua lunina
  • Cerastis laevis
  • Gortyna leucostigma
  • Blepharidia yeterofuna
  • Celaena leucostigma

Helotropha leucostigma, the crescent, formerly Celaena leucostigma is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in the Palearctic ecozone (Europe, Russia,[1] Armenia, Turkestan, Siberia, Russian Far East, Mongolia, Amur, Korea, Japan, and north east China)

Mounted

Technical description and variation

For a key to the terms used, see Glossary of entomology terms.

The wingspan is 37–44 millimetres (1.5–1.7 in). Forewing dull dark brown, faintly reddish- tinged; the veins powdered with grey scales; the terminal area beyond subterminal line black-brown, except at apex: median area between subcostal vein and vein 1 somewhat darker than the rest of wing; inner and outer lines indistinctly double: the inner outwardly oblique, the outer bent on vein 5; claviform stigma hardly visible; orbicular stigma oblique, elliptical, of the ground colour, with paler annulus; the reniform white or dull yellow, containing a double dark lunule with pale centre; the outer edge of this dark inner lunule is sometimes obsolete, in which case the stigma appears more solidly yellowish or white; the space between outer and subterminal lines is always slightly, often visibly, paler than the ground colour; hindwing fuscous grey; — in the ab. lunina Haw. the outer fascia is conspicuously paler, becoming pale brown or pinkish ochreous, the median vein and veins 3, 4 at their base are white, and both stigmata are more strongly marked; ab. albipuncta Tutt is comparatively a rare form, with nearly the whole reniform stigma snow-white; — fibrosa Hbn. represents a bright reddish fulvous form, which may exist, but which no one appears to have seen; — laevis Btlr. the Japanese form, is, as usual, larger than the European, and the outer line appears rather more strongly excurved beyond cell and incurved below.[2]

Biology

The moth flies from June to October depending on the location.

Larvablackish-brown; the dorsal and subdorsal lines somewhat paler; thoracic and anal plates blackish; head brown. The larvae feed on waterplants Iris pseudacorus and Cladium mariscus.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Helotropha leucostigma (Hübner, 1808)". Fauna Europaea. 2.6.2. August 29, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  2. ↑ 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
  3. ↑ "Robinson, G. S., P. R. Ackery, I. J. Kitching, G. W. Beccaloni & L. M. Hernández, 2010. HOSTS - A Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants. Natural History Museum, London.".
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