ABH: 73.248
BF: 2184
Family: Noctuidae
Subfamily: Hadeninae
Taxon: Orthosia opima
Authority: (Hübner, [1809])
Vernacular: Northern Drab
Account: Local on saltmarshes, marshes, heathland, downland, golf courses and sand-dunes throughout much of the British Isles Some of the darker, more unicolorous forms of Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta resemble the most common form of Northern Drab, f. brunnea but differ as follows: male antenna bipectinate; apex of forewing not pointed; subterminal line less conspicuous and less straight, particularly at extremities; cilia of hindwing pale fuscous (MBGBI Vol 9). Lead-coloured Drab Orthosia populeti is another possible confusion species, but that species has forewing with costa less straight and apex more rounded. Larva feeds on Sallow, Silver Birch, Downy Birch, Mugwort, Common Sea-lavender, herbaceous plants and woody plants, over-wintering as a pupa.
Wingspan: 34 — 40 mm
Surrey Flight Period: 1 Apr (1989) — 22 May (1955)
Foodplant: Betula sp. (a birch), Genista tinctoria (Dyer's Greenweed), Limonium vulgare (Common Sea-lavender), Salix sp. (a sallow), Senecio jacobaea (Common Ragwort).
Status: Least Concern (LC)
UK BAP:
WCA:
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Verification Grade: 2 — Care needed to identify, an image may be required 🤔
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/orthosia-opima/
* Based on adult records only.
Records: 96
Individuals: 58
Earliest Year: 1916
Latest Year: 2019