Black-bar Noctuid
Common NameBlack-bar Noctuid
Scientific NameActebia fennica
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, black
HabitatBoreal forests, peatlands, open woodlands, clearings
Geographic RangeHolarctic (northern Europe, Asia, North America)
Host Plantsgrasses, blueberry, birch, willow, various herbaceous plants
Flight PeriodJuly to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesOverwinters as an egg; larvae hatch in spring, feeding on a wide range of plants before pupating in the soil, with adults emerging in late summer.
Identification TipsKey features include the mottled brown and grey forewings with prominent black reniform and orbicular spots, and a dark subterminal line. Hindwings are typically paler grey-brown.
Description
A medium-sized moth with mottled brown and grey forewings, featuring distinct black reniform and orbicular spots and a darker, often jagged subterminal band.
