Xanthia icteritia

Xanthia icteritia, the sallow, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in the Palearctic realm (Europe except for the furthest south, and east to Central Asia, Korea, and Japan).

Xanthia icteritia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Hexapoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Noctuidae
Genus:
Xanthia
Species:
X. icteritia
Binomial name
Xanthia icteritia
(Hufnagel, 1766)

The wingspan is 27–35 mm. The moth is similar to the pink-barred sallow (Xanthia togata) but the median fascia usually differs. In some cases it is missing completely, in others the wings show a very small annular spot.

Technical description and variation
For a key to the terms used, see Glossary of entomology terms.

Forewing pale yellow; markings the same as in Xanthia togata, but the cloud on costa beyond submarginal line, the costal end of the median shade, and the subbasal costal blotch prominently dark brown; the dark blotch at base of reniform with a pale centre; the fringe yellow; head and shoulders pale yellow; hindwing whitish; — flavescens Esp. is a unicolorous form in which all the brown lines and shading are absent, the lines and edges of the stigmata being sometimes represented by slender faint rufous lines, the lower end of the reniform stigma alone remaining deep brown and the fringes reddish brown; an intermediate form occurs in which the markings are pale reddish brown, either distinct or faint, and approaching; asiatica Hmps. from the Sir Daria, has more orange yellow forewings, with dark brown markings, the antemedian and postmedian costal patches absent; the fringe dark brown at tips.[1]

Biology

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

The larvae are difficult to tell apart from the pink-barred sallow (Xanthia togata) and the larvae feed on willow and poplar.[2]

References
  1. 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
  2. "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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