Heliothis peltigera (Denis & Schiff., 1775)

Description: Wingspan 34-42 mm. Forewings variable, ranging from pale straw to light brown. Reniform stigmata large and dark and extended out to the costa; orbicular stigmata pale and often reduced to a small black dot; sub terminal fascia broad and darker than ground colour. There is also a small dark-coloured triangle at the costa near the apex of the wing. Hindwings creamy white heavily marked with darker veining and a broad terminal band with a central pale square spot.

Key Identification Features:

• Large dark reniform stigmata at the costal edge of the wing
• Broad subterminal fascia with dark triangle at the costa
• Creamy white hindwings with darker veining

Sets:

Flight Period: Only recorded in May.

Status: An occasional migrant that has been recorded on just a few occasions in Ireland at Seaforde Estate, Down in 1988 and Helen's Bay, Down in 1994 and inland over in the west near Aghalane, Fermanagh 1994.

Ecology: A species which is resident in southern Europe and across North Africa to eastern Asia. Adults appear in southern England in small numbers throughout the summer months and occasionally a few individuals are found further north in Scotland and rarely in Ireland. The larvae feed on garden marigolds Calendula spp., Groundsel Senecio vulgaris and various thistles Carduus and Cirsium spp.

World Distribution: A subtropical species found throughout Africa, Asia and the Mediterranean. In western Europe it occurs from Portugal to Fennoscandia.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 2403 Agassiz number: 73.074

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: