Xestia baja

Xestia baja
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Xestia
Species: X. baja
Binomial name
Xestia baja
Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775[1]

Xestia baja, the dotted clay, is a species of moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in Europe, Turkey, northern Iran, Transcaucasia, the Caucasus, central Asia, Siberia, Mongolia, Tibet, China, Korea and Japan.[2]


Technical description and variation

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

The wingspan is 35–40 mm. Forewing dull red brown, with slight lilac-grey tinge in places; a distinct black praeapical costal bar; upper stigmata large, with slight pale rings; lower lobe of reniform dark; median shade forming a brown space between the stigmata; a black dot near base of cell; hindwing ochreous or yellowish grey. ab. bajula Stgr. is smaller than the type and suffused with grey, without any red tinge; in the northern form punctata Auriv, the lines are prominently marked by dots on the veins; purpurea Tutt, grisea Tutt and coerulescens Tutt are merely colour variations.[3]

Biology

The moth flies from July to August depending on the location.

Larva polyphagous, brown or grey, with a red tinge; the lines pale; a row of oblique dark sublateral bars; a pale bar on segment 12; head pale brown. The larvae feed on Myrica gale, Rubus species and other plants and trees.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: April 2013 (April 2013). "Xestia baja". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2013-06-28.
  2. ↑ Markku Savela (November 3, 2008). "Xestia genus". funet.fi. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  3. ↑ 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
  4. ↑ "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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