Rivula sericealis

Straw dot
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Rivula
Species: R. sericealis
Binomial name
Rivula sericealis
(Scopoli, 1763)

Rivula sericealis, the straw dot, is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in Europe including the Iberian Peninsula and southern Fennoscandia and south to North Africa. In an easterly direction, the species occurs across the Palearctic to the Pacific Ocean and Japan. The species closely resembles Evergestis forficalis.

Technical description and variation

For a key to the terms used, see Glossary of entomology terms.

The wingspan is 18–22 mm. The length of the forewings is 13–15 mm. Forewing triangular, the apex rectangular, the termen curved; veins 7, 8, 9 stalked. Forewing straw yellow, becoming deeper terminally; with a black brown reniform stigma containing two black dots; inner and outer lines brownish, obscure, the outer sinuous, excurved round the cell; hindwing luteous with a yellow tinge, darker terminally.[1]

Biology

The moth flies from May to October depending on the location.

Larva green;dorsal line darker; subdorsal white; head greenish ochreous. The larvae feed on various grasses, such as false brome and purple moor grass.

Different habitats include moist grasslands, wasteland, sparse forests, alder forests and parklands.

References

  1. ↑ 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
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