''Xestia agathina'', the heath rustic, is a moth of the family

Noctuidae The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are a family of moths. They are considered the most controversial family in the superfamily Noctuoidea because many of the clades are constantly changing, along with the other f ...

. It is found in western and central Europe and Morocco.

Technical description and variation

The wingspan is 28–36 mm. Forewing greyish rufous; costal area paler for two-thirds, edged below at base by a fine dark streak; claviform stigma small and obscure; cell black brown; the two stigmata pale, orbicular variable, sometimes large, sometimes contracted to a white spot; hindwing dark grey; antennae of male serrate, with sessile fascicles of cilia. In the form ''hebridicola'' Stgr., from the Hebrides, the forewing becomes paler and loses the red tinge; in ''scopariae'' Mill, from France the red tinge is overpowered by black suffusion.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

Biology

Adults are on wing from in September. Larva green, with pale dark-edged lines, the spiracular broad and conspicuous. The larvae feed on '' Calluna'' species.

References

External links

Funet

Fauna Europaea

UKmoths
Xestia Moths of Europe Moths of Africa Moths described in 1790 {{Xestia-stub