Plain Golden Y
Common NamePlain Golden Y
Scientific NameAutographa excelsa
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyPlusiinae
Wingspan (mm)38
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, reddish-brown, gold
HabitatWetlands, damp meadows, fens, bogs, riverbanks
Geographic RangeEurope, Russia, parts of Asia (Palearctic)
Host PlantsUrtica, Cirsium, Mentha, Lythrum, Valeriana, Filipendula, Scrophularia
Flight PeriodMay to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are green with pale stripes, feeding on various herbaceous wetland plants. They pupate in a silken cocoon.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive, unbroken, metallic golden-yellow 'Y'-shaped mark on the reddish-brown forewings. This mark is typically more solid and less fragmented than in some similar 'Y' moths.
Description
A medium-sized moth with mottled reddish-brown forewings featuring a prominent, shiny golden-yellow mark, often resembling a 'Y' or gamma symbol, in the central area. The hindwings are plainer grey-brown.
