Cream Drab
Common NameCream Drab
Scientific NameCosmia trapezina
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)30
Primary Colorscream, pale brown, dark brown
HabitatWoodlands, gardens, hedgerows, parks
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, temperate Asia
Host Plantsoak, birch, elm, sallow, hawthorn, fruit trees
Flight PeriodJuly to September
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesSingle brood, overwintering as eggs. Larvae hatch in spring, initially feeding on buds and leaves, then becoming predatory on other caterpillars. Pupation occurs in a cocoon underground.
Identification TipsLook for the pale, drab forewings with two distinct dark stigmata (spots) and a darker, often jagged, subterminal line. The overall trapezoidal shape of the forewings when at rest is also characteristic.
Description
A medium-sized moth with pale cream to light brown forewings, featuring two prominent dark kidney-shaped spots and a darker, irregular band along the outer margin.
