Moderate Drab
Common NameModerate Drab
Scientific NameRusina ferruginea
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)32
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsdark brown, orange, grey
HabitatWoodlands, hedgerows, gardens, scrubland
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host PlantsPrimula, Plantago, Rumex, Taraxacum, Lonicera
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are polyphagous, feeding on various herbaceous plants and shrubs. They overwinter as larvae, pupating in the soil in spring.
Identification TipsDistinguished by the combination of dark, relatively plain forewings and the striking orange-brown hindwings with darker banding, which are often visible even at rest.
Description
A medium-sized moth with drab, dark purplish-brown forewings featuring subtle pale spots, contrasting sharply with bright orange-brown hindwings marked with darker transverse bands.
