Setaceous Hebrew Character

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The Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is a common species throughout Europe.

The forewings of this species are reddish brown with distinctive patterning towards the base: a black mark rather like an angular letter c (or the Hebrew letter Nun) with a pale cream coloured area adjacent to this mark. The hindwings are cream coloured. The wingspan is 35-45 mm. Two broods are produced each year and the adults are on the wing between May and October.^{[#endnote_flight_season]} This moth flies at night and is attracted to light and sugar as well as flowers such as Buddleia, ivy and ragwort.

The larva is pale brown or green with black spots. It feeds on a huge variety of plants (see list below). The species overwinters as a larva.

↑ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

Recorded food plants

Acer - Maple
Allium - Onion
Apium - Celery
Avena - Oat
Beta - Beet
Brassica
Calendula - Marigold
Chrysanthemum
Cichorium - Chicory
Cirsium - Creeping Thistle
Comptonia - Sweetfern
Daucus - Carrot
Epilobium - Rosebay Willowherb
Helianthus
Hordeum - Barley
Hypericum - St John's Wort
Lactuca - Lettuce
Lamium - Dead-nettle
Lantana
Linum
Lobelia
Lycopersicon - Tomato
Malus - Apple
Medicago - Alfalfa
Myosotis - Forget-me-not
Nicotiana - Tobacco
Photinia
Pisum - Pea
Plantago - Plantain
Platanus - Oriental Plane
Primula
Pyrus - Pear
Rheum - Rhubarb
Ribes - Currant
Rumex
Senecio - Groundsel
Solanum - Potato
Solidago - Goldenrod
Spiraea
Stellaria - Chickweed
Taraxacum - Dandelion
Thalictrum - Meadow-rue
Trifolium - Clover
Triticum - Wheat
Urtica - Nettle
Vaccinium
Veratrum
Viburnum
Viola
Vitis - Grape
Zea - Maize

External link

[Setaceous Hebrew Character at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera pages]

References

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

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