Species Details

ABH: 73.357

BF: 2134

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Noctuinae

Taxon: Xestia xanthographa

Authority: ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Vernacular: Square-spot Rustic

Account: Common in grassland, gardens and woodland rides throughout the British Isles The pale reniform stigma of Square-spot Rustic should preclude confusion with any other species; the much less common Garden Dart Euxoa nigricans has the forewing narrower and a conspicuous claviform stigma (MBGBI Vol 9). Larva feeds on various grasses.

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: 32 — 40 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 25 Jun (2009) — 22 Oct (2024)

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

Foodplant: Gramineae, Polyphagous.

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: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/xestia-xanthographa/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 1669

Individuals: 3190

Earliest Year: 1903

Latest Year: 2025

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