Species Details

ABH: 73.209

BF: 2241

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Xyleninae

Taxon: Xylena vetusta

Authority: (Hübner, [1813])

Vernacular: Red Sword-grass

Account: Local on moorland, upland grassland, boggy heathland and damp woodland, most commonly in southern and south-western England, Wales and from Yorkshire northwards through Scotland to Orkney and Shetland, being scarce in the Midlands and especially East Anglia The most likely confusion species is Sword-grass X. exsoleta, which see for differences. Larva feeds on various herbaceous and woody plants, including Bog-myrtle, Heather, Yellow Iris, Soft-rush and Compact Rush.

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: 56 — 64 mm

Surrey Flight Period: —

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/xylena-vetusta/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 10

Individuals: 8

Earliest Year: 1919

Latest Year: 2019

« Previous Random 🎲 Next »