Common Quaker
Common NameCommon Quaker
Scientific NameOrthosia cerasi
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyHadeninae
Wingspan (mm)36
Primary Colorsbrown, grey
HabitatWoodlands, gardens, hedgerows, parks
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host Plantsoak, willow, birch, hawthorn, blackthorn, elm, honeysuckle
Flight PeriodMarch to May
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in spring, larvae feed on deciduous trees and shrubs during summer, pupation occurs in the soil over winter, emerging as adults in early spring.
Identification TipsLook for the characteristic pale-ringed reniform and orbicular stigmata, the overall warm brown or greyish-brown coloration, and its early spring flight period. It can be distinguished from similar *Orthosia* species by the shape and clarity of its stigmata and the general tone of the forewings.
Description
A medium-sized moth with mottled reddish-brown to greyish-brown forewings, featuring distinct, pale-ringed reniform and orbicular stigmata and a darker central band.
