The forewing is broad (for the genus) and brownish ochreous; the costal streak and those preceding and following the lower part of outer line are a deep red brown; the lunules following the line are white and conspicuous; the space below median paler, becoming almost whitish above the outer dark brown streak; the stigmata are marked by dark brown spots; a row of deep brown streaks from apex to vein 6, and another, more faint, from below the apex to the end of cell. The hindwing of the male is whitish, with dark veins and cellspot, becoming diffusely fuscous along the termen; in the female it is darker throughout.[1]
The larva is creamy with black and yellow spots.
Similar speciesedit
Cucullia verbasci is difficult to certainly distinguish from these congeners.[2]
It is found in western, southern and central Europe and North Africa. However, there are only individual finds from Denmark and southern Estonia in the north. The eastern presence extends to western Afghanistan. It is also found in Israel and Turkey. In the Alps, it lives up to an altitude of 1,600 metres (5,200 ft).
Statusedit
The Mullein moth mainly occupies dry and warm places, such as scrublands, dry grasslands, on rocky slopes, and on steppes, as well as parks and gardens.
The moth's caterpillar completely strips the leaves of the host plant and can be a horticultural pest.[3] When threatened, the caterpillar freezes and may vomit.
Life cycleedit
Eggedit
Eggs are laid singly on the under-surface of leaves of food plants. Initially white, they turn grey before hatching.
The larva is the most commonly encountered part of the life cycle, clearly visible as it feeds on the leaves of its host plants.[4] When fully grown it is 44–48 mm (1.7–1.9 in) long.[5]
Pupaedit
The pupa is the longest part of the life cycle (up to five years in captivity). It lives underground in a strong cocoon.[4]
Imagoedit
The imago displays much variation in size: wingspan ranges between 45 and 56 mm (1.8 and 2.2 in). They also show minor variation in colour. The moth flies from late April to June depending on the location.
^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
^Martin C. Townsend, Jon Clifton and Brian Goodey (2010). British and Irish Moths: An Illustrated Guide to Selected Difficult Species. (covering the use of genitalia characters and other features) Butterfly Conservation.
^Alford, David V. (2012). Pests of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs and Flowers: A Colour Handbook (2nd ed.). Manson Pub Ltd. ISBN978-1840761627.
^Robinson, Gaden S.; Ackery, Phillip R.; Kitching, Ian J.; Beccaloni, George W. & Hernández, Luis M. (2010). "Search the database - introduction and help". HOSTS - A Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants. Natural History Museum, London.
Bibliographyedit
Heath, John; A. Maitland, Emmet (1983). "Noctuidae: Cucilliinae to Hypeninae". The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 10: Noctuidae (Cucilliinae to Hypeninae) and Agaristidae. Colchester: Harley Books. pp. 49–52. ISBN9780902068070.
Waring, Paul; Townsend, Martin; Lewington, Richard (2003). Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. Hook, UK: British Wildlife Publishing. ISBN0-9531399-1-3.
Chinery, Michael (1986). Insects of Britain and Western Europe. Collins. ISBN0-00-219137-7.
Porter, Jim (1997). Caterpillars of the British Isles. Viking Publication. ISBN9780670875092.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cucullia verbasci.
Kimber, Ian. "73.058 BF2221 The Mullein Cucullia verbasci (Linnaeus, 1758)". UKMoths. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
Savela, Markku, ed. (August 20, 2020). "Shargacucullia verbasci (Linnaeus, 1758)". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
English Nature page on Mullein Moth
Lepiforum e. V.
March 16, 2024
mullein, moth, mullein, moth, cucullia, verbasci, noctuid, moth, with, palearctic, distribution, species, first, described, carl, linnaeus, landmark, 1758, 10th, edition, systema, naturae, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylum, art. The mullein moth Cucullia verbasci is a noctuid moth with a Palearctic distribution The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae Mullein mothScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder LepidopteraSuperfamily NoctuoideaFamily NoctuidaeGenus CuculliaSpecies C verbasciBinomial nameCucullia verbasci Linnaeus 1758 SynonymsShargacucullia verbasci Linnaeus 1758 Contents 1 Description 2 Similar species 3 Range 4 Status 5 Life cycle 5 1 Egg 5 2 Larva 5 3 Pupa 5 4 Imago 6 Host plants 7 References 8 Bibliography 9 External linksDescription editFor a key to the terms used see Glossary of entomology terms The forewing is broad for the genus and brownish ochreous the costal streak and those preceding and following the lower part of outer line are a deep red brown the lunules following the line are white and conspicuous the space below median paler becoming almost whitish above the outer dark brown streak the stigmata are marked by dark brown spots a row of deep brown streaks from apex to vein 6 and another more faint from below the apex to the end of cell The hindwing of the male is whitish with dark veins and cellspot becoming diffusely fuscous along the termen in the female it is darker throughout 1 The larva is creamy with black and yellow spots Similar species editCucullia verbasci is difficult to certainly distinguish from these congeners 2 Shargacucullia scrophulariae Denis amp Schiffermuller 1775 Shargacucullia lychnitis Rambur 1833 Range editIt is found in western southern and central Europe and North Africa However there are only individual finds from Denmark and southern Estonia in the north The eastern presence extends to western Afghanistan It is also found in Israel and Turkey In the Alps it lives up to an altitude of 1 600 metres 5 200 ft Status editThe Mullein moth mainly occupies dry and warm places such as scrublands dry grasslands on rocky slopes and on steppes as well as parks and gardens The moth s caterpillar completely strips the leaves of the host plant and can be a horticultural pest 3 When threatened the caterpillar freezes and may vomit Life cycle editEgg edit Eggs are laid singly on the under surface of leaves of food plants Initially white they turn grey before hatching Larva edit nbsp nbsp Mulein moth larvae in Carlton NottinghamshireThe larva is the most commonly encountered part of the life cycle clearly visible as it feeds on the leaves of its host plants 4 When fully grown it is 44 48 mm 1 7 1 9 in long 5 Pupa edit The pupa is the longest part of the life cycle up to five years in captivity It lives underground in a strong cocoon 4 Imago edit The imago displays much variation in size wingspan ranges between 45 and 56 mm 1 8 and 2 2 in They also show minor variation in colour The moth flies from late April to June depending on the location Host plants editBuddleja Buddleia butterfly bush Himantoglossum hircinum lizard orchid Scrophularia figworts Verbascum mulleins 6 References edit 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 Martin C Townsend Jon Clifton and Brian Goodey 2010 British and Irish Moths An Illustrated Guide to Selected Difficult Species covering the use of genitalia characters and other features Butterfly Conservation Alford David V 2012 Pests of Ornamental Trees Shrubs and Flowers A Colour Handbook 2nd ed Manson Pub Ltd ISBN 978 1840761627 a b Waring Townsend amp Lewington 2003 Porter 1997 Robinson Gaden S Ackery Phillip R Kitching Ian J Beccaloni George W amp Hernandez Luis M 2010 Search the database introduction and help HOSTS A Database of the World s Lepidopteran Hostplants Natural History Museum London Bibliography editHeath John A Maitland Emmet 1983 Noctuidae Cucilliinae to Hypeninae The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Vol 10 Noctuidae Cucilliinae to Hypeninae and Agaristidae Colchester Harley Books pp 49 52 ISBN 9780902068070 Waring Paul Townsend Martin Lewington Richard 2003 Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland Hook UK British Wildlife Publishing ISBN 0 9531399 1 3 Chinery Michael 1986 Insects of Britain and Western Europe Collins ISBN 0 00 219137 7 Porter Jim 1997 Caterpillars of the British Isles Viking Publication ISBN 9780670875092 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cucullia verbasci Kimber Ian 73 058 BF2221 The Mullein Cucullia verbasci Linnaeus 1758 UKMoths Retrieved 9 February 2021 Savela Markku ed August 20 2020 Shargacucullia verbasci Linnaeus 1758 Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms Retrieved February 9 2021 Fauna Europaea Royal Horticultural Society advice on Mullein Moth pest control English Nature page on Mullein Moth Lepiforum e V Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mullein moth amp oldid 1177882179, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
