Species Details

ABH: 73.355

BF: 2132

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Noctuinae

Taxon: Xestia castanea

Authority: (Esper, 1798)

Vernacular: Neglected Rustic

Account: Local on heathland and moorland, and in bogs throughout the British Isles, a species of conservation concern under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan Variable, with the grey form neglecta more common in the south of Britain, and red forms in the north of Britain; in north-east Hampshire both grey and red forms occur. The grey form may be confused with Square-spot Rustic X. xanthographa, but X. castanea always characterised by reniform and orbicular stigmata inconspicuous, concolorous with ground colour, outlined ochreous, and reniform stigma with dark dot in dorsal half (MBGBI Vol 9). Larva feeds on Heather, Bell Heather and Cross-leaved Heath.

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: 36 — 42 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 26 Jul (1973) — 1 Oct (1990)

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

Foodplant: Calluna sp., Erica sp.

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

Status: Least Concern (LC)

UK BAP: BAP(R)

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/xestia-castanea/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 205

Individuals: 75

Earliest Year: 1864

Latest Year: 2024

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