Northern Drab
Common NameNorthern Drab
Scientific NameRusina ferruginea
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyXyleninae
Wingspan (mm)35
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgray, brown
HabitatWoodlands, heathlands, gardens
Geographic RangeEurope
Host Plantsvarious herbaceous plants, shrubs
Flight PeriodMay to August
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in summer, larvae hatch and feed on various plants, overwintering as larvae before pupating in the soil in spring.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its drab, mottled gray-brown forewings with indistinct darker markings, and its robust, hairy thorax. Often rests on tree trunks or dead leaves.
Description
A small to medium-sized moth with a robust, hairy body and forewings cryptically patterned in mottled shades of gray and brown, blending well with bark or dead leaves.
