Mullein moth
{{short description|Species of moth}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Mullein moth
| image = Shargacucullia verbasci.jpg
| image2 =
| taxon = Cucullia verbasci
| authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)
| synonyms = Shargacucullia verbasci {{small|(Linnaeus, 1758)}}
}}
The mullein moth (Cucullia verbasci) is a noctuid moth with a Palearctic distribution. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
Description
{{Entomology glossary hatnote}}
The forewing is broad (for the genus) and brownish ochreous; the costal streak and those preceding and following the lower part of outer line are a deep red brown; the lunules following the line are white and conspicuous; the space below median paler, becoming almost whitish above the outer dark brown streak; the stigmata are marked by dark brown spots; a row of deep brown streaks from apex to vein 6, and another, more faint, from below the apex to the end of cell. The hindwing of the male is whitish, with dark veins and cellspot, becoming diffusely fuscous along the termen; in the female it is darker throughout.Seitz, A. (ed.), 1914 Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde, Verlag Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart Band 3: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen eulenartigen Nachtfalter, 1914
The larva is creamy with black and yellow spots.
Similar species
Cucullia verbasci is difficult to certainly distinguish from these congeners.Martin C. Townsend, Jon Clifton and Brian Goodey (2010). [https://butterfly-conservation.org/uploads/Difficult_species_guide_page_64.pdf British and Irish Moths: An Illustrated Guide to Selected Difficult Species]. (covering the use of genitalia characters and other features) Butterfly Conservation.
- Shargacucullia scrophulariae (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
- Shargacucullia lychnitis (Rambur, 1833)
Range
It is found in western, southern and central Europe and North Africa. However, there are only individual finds from Denmark and southern Estonia in the north. The eastern presence extends to western Afghanistan. It is also found in Israel and Turkey. In the Alps, it lives up to an altitude of {{convert|1600|m}}.
Status
The Mullein moth mainly occupies dry and warm places, such as scrublands, dry grasslands, on rocky slopes, and on steppes, as well as parks and gardens.
The moth's caterpillar completely strips the leaves of the host plant and can be a horticultural pest.{{cite book |last=Alford |first=David V. |date=2012 |title=Pests of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs and Flowers: A Colour Handbook |edition=2nd |publisher=Manson Pub Ltd |isbn=978-1840761627}} When threatened, the caterpillar freezes and may vomit.
Life cycle
= Egg =
Eggs are laid singly on the under-surface of leaves of food plants. Initially white, they turn grey before hatching.
= Larva =
The larva is the most commonly encountered part of the life cycle, clearly visible as it feeds on the leaves of its host plants.{{sfn|Waring|Townsend|Lewington|2003}} When fully grown it is {{cvt|44–48|mm}} long.{{sfn|Porter|1997}}
=Pupa=
=Imago=
Host plants
- Buddleja – Buddleia, butterfly bush
- Himantoglossum hircinum – lizard orchid
- Scrophularia – figworts
- Verbascum – mulleins{{cite journal |last1=Robinson |first1=Gaden S. |last2=Ackery |first2=Phillip R. |last3=Kitching |first3=Ian J. |last4=Beccaloni |first4=George W. |last5=Hernández |first5=Luis M. |name-list-style=amp |date=2010 |url=https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/hostplants |title=Search the database - introduction and help |website=HOSTS - A Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants |publisher=Natural History Museum, London|doi=10.5519/havt50xw }}
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book |last1=Heath |first1=John |last2=A. Maitland |first2=Emmet |date=1983 |title=The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 10: Noctuidae (Cucilliinae to Hypeninae) and Agaristidae |chapter=Noctuidae: Cucilliinae to Hypeninae |publisher=Harley Books |location=Colchester |isbn=9780902068070 |pages=49–52}}
- {{cite book |last1=Waring |first1=Paul |last2=Townsend |first2=Martin |last3=Lewington |first3=Richard |date=2003 |title=Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland |publisher=British Wildlife Publishing |location=Hook, UK |isbn=0-9531399-1-3}}
- {{cite book |last=Chinery |first=Michael |title=Insects of Britain and Western Europe |date=1986 |publisher=Collins |isbn=0-00-219137-7}}
- {{cite book |last=Porter |first=Jim |year=1997 |title=Caterpillars of the British Isles |publisher=Viking Publication |isbn=9780670875092}}
External links
{{Commons category|Cucullia verbasci}}
- {{cite web |last=Kimber |first=Ian |url=https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/cucullia-verbasci/ |title=73.058 BF2221 The Mullein Cucullia verbasci (Linnaeus, 1758) |website=UKMoths |access-date=9 February 2021}}
- {{cite web |editor-last=Savela |editor-first=Markku |date=August 20, 2020 |url=https://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/noctuoidea/noctuidae/cuculliinae/shargacucullia/#verbasci |title=Shargacucullia verbasci (Linnaeus, 1758) |website=Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms |access-date=February 9, 2021}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071918/http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=449363 Fauna Europaea]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20040924094757/http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0904/mullein_moth.asp Royal Horticultural Society advice on Mullein Moth pest control.]
- [http://www.plantpress.com/wildlife/search.php?name=(search+text)&pl=5&adv=1&ot=&r=0&g=0&p=1&o=285 English Nature page on Mullein Moth]
- [http://www.lepiforum.de/cgi-bin/lepiwiki.pl?Cucullia_Verbasci Lepiforum e. V.]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1574132}}
Category:Moths described in 1758
Category:Insect pests of ornamental plants
Category:Moths of the Middle East