Cucullia gnaphalii

Cudweed
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Noctuoidea
Family:	Noctuidae
Genus:	Cucullia
Species:	C. gnaphalii
Binomial name
Cucullia gnaphalii (Hübner, 1813)
Synonyms
Noctua gnaphalii Hubner, 1813 Cucullia occidentalis Boursin, 1944

Cucullia gnaphalii, the cudweed, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found from most of Europe (except Ireland and most of the Balkan Peninsula) to Turkey, Transcaucasia, Mongolia and Sayan.

Larva

Technical description and variation

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

C. gnaphalii Hbn. (27 e). Like Cucullia xeranthemi, from which it is distinguished by the more rounded orbicular, not 8-shaped; by the absence of a black shade before outer line in submedian fold, while the black line beyond it is thickened and more conspicuous; the outer line being bent at right angles on the fold, its lower half vertical; above vein 4 a black streak from the reniform stigma, interrupted in the middle; a black streak along middle of inner margin; hindwing brownish, the basal half paler, but not nearly so pale as in xeranthemi. Larva deep green; dorsal stripe broad, red-brown; spiracles yellow on an interrupted red-brown streak; head green. The wingspan is 38–46 mm.

Figs.2, 2a, 2b larvae after last moult

Biology

Adults are on wing from May to July. There is one generation per year.

The larvae feed on the flowers and leaves of Solidago virgaurea, Solidago canadensis, Artemisia absinthium and Artemisia vulgaris hiding by day under the leaves close to the ground.

External links

• Lepiforum e. V.

See also

• Mullein moth
• Shark (moth)