Dubious Quaker
Common NameDubious Quaker
Scientific NamePolymixis dubia
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)43
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgrey, black, white
HabitatDeciduous woodlands, parks, gardens, hedgerows
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia Minor
Host Plantsoak, hawthorn, sallow, birch, blackthorn
Flight PeriodSeptember to November
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesOverwinters as an egg. Larvae hatch in spring and feed on the foliage of various deciduous trees and shrubs. Pupation occurs in the soil or leaf litter during summer, with adults emerging in late autumn.
Identification TipsIdentified by its distinctive mottled grey and black forewing pattern, often with a prominent dark reniform stigma and a late autumn flight period. It can be distinguished from similar species by the specific arrangement of its dark markings and its flight time.
Description
A medium-sized moth with a highly cryptic, mottled pattern of various shades of grey, black, and white on its forewings, providing excellent camouflage against tree bark.
