Square-spot Rustic
Xestia xanthographa
This record describes Xestia xanthographa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 32-35 mm. A drab brown moth that gets its name from the square spot on each wing. Found in woodland edges, waste ground and suburban habitats. A frequent visitor to the light-trap, it flies in August and September. The nocturnal caterpillars feed during the winter, mainly on grasses, but also on other low-growing plants. A very common species in Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Xestia xanthographa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xestia xanthographa.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Cutworm Moths and Allies)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Xestia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Found in woodland edges, waste ground and suburban habitats.
Seasonal Activity
A frequent visitor to the light-trap, it flies in August and September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The nocturnal caterpillars feed during the winter, mainly on grasses, but also on other low-growing plants.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A very common species in Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Xestia xanthographa. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Square-spot Rustic (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Square-spot Rustic
What is Square-spot Rustic?
Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Square-spot Rustic found?
Habitat: Found in woodland edges, waste ground and suburban habitats.
When is Square-spot Rustic active?
Square-spot Rustic: seasonal activity - A frequent visitor to the light-trap, it flies in August and September..
What is the life cycle of a Square-spot Rustic?
The nocturnal caterpillars feed during the winter, mainly on grasses, but also on other low-growing plants.