Small Square-spot
| Small Square-spot | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Diarsia |
| Species: | D. rubi |
| Binomial name | |
| Diarsia rubi Vieweg, 1790 |
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| Synonyms | |
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The Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in Europe apart from the far south-east.
This is a quite a small species (wingspan 30-38 mm) with reddish-brown forewings marked with a pale angular stigma which gives the species its common name. The hindwings are grey. Two broods are produced each year with the adults flying in May and June and again in August and September.[1] Moths of the second brood are usually smaller and darker than those of the first. The species flies at night and is attracted to light and sugar. It will also visit flowers such as heather and ragwort.
The larva feeds on a variety of plants: recorded food plants include raspberry, Vaccinium and willow. The species overwinters as a larva.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.
- Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
- Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984
