Species Details

ABH: 73.245

BF: 2182

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Hadeninae

Taxon: Orthosia cruda

Authority: ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Vernacular: Small Quaker

Account: Common in broad-leaved woodland, areas with scattered trees and heathland throughout the British Isles. A very common early spring visitor to light traps, where the small size and relatively small orbicular stigma easily distinguishes O. cruda from the equally common Common Quaker O. cerasi, and less frequent Blossom Underwing O. miniosa. Larva feeds on Pedunculate and Sessile Oak, Downy Birch, Hazel, Sallow and Field Maple.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 28 — 32 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 31 Jan (2018) — 15 May (2007)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Quercus sp. (an oak), Salix sp. (a sallow).

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Least Concern (LC)

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 2 — Care needed to identify, an image may be required 🤔
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/orthosia-cruda/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 1342

Individuals: 10322

Earliest Year: 1896

Latest Year: 2025

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