Gray Quaker
Common NameGray Quaker
Scientific NameOrthosia cruda
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyHadeninae
Wingspan (mm)31.5
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, reddish-brown
HabitatWoodlands, parks, gardens, hedgerows
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, temperate Asia
Host Plantsoak, birch, willow, hawthorn, elm, poplar
Flight PeriodMarch to May
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are green with pale lines, feeding on the leaves of various deciduous trees and shrubs from May to July. They pupate in the soil, overwintering as pupae.
Identification TipsKey features include its early spring flight period, the prominent furry reddish-brown thorax, and the variable but generally muted grey-brown to reddish-brown forewings with indistinct markings, often including a darker kidney mark.
Description
A small, stocky moth characterized by its very furry, reddish-brown thorax and forewings that range from greyish-brown to reddish-brown, often with faint darker crosslines and a darker discal spot.
