Species Details

ABH: 73.087

BF: 2385

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Xyleninae

Taxon: Spodoptera exigua

Authority: (Hübner, [1808])

Vernacular: Small Mottled Willow

Account: A common migrant from mainland Europe, appearing most frequently in southern coastal counties, less often inland and northwards to southern Scotland and the Inner Hebrides The main confusion species are Pale Mottled Willow Paradrina clavipalpis and the rare migrant Dark Mottled Willow S. cilium, but combination of resting position, in which forewings are wrapped tightly around the body, and brownish centres to reniform and orbicular stigmata usually diagnostic. Larva feeds on Dandelion, Groundsel, Broad-leaved Dock, Curled Dock and Common Restharrow.

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: 26 — 32 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 8 Mar (1952) — 12 Nov (1994)

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

Foodplant:

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

Status: Migrant

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/spodoptera-exigua/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 171

Individuals: 165

Earliest Year: 1877

Latest Year: 2025

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