Stormy Arches
Common NameStormy Arches
Scientific NamePolia nebulosa
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyHadeninae
Wingspan (mm)45
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgrey, white, black
HabitatWoodlands, gardens, hedgerows, various open habitats
Geographic RangeEurope, Asia, North Africa (Palearctic)
Host Plantswillow, birch, oak, sallow, hawthorn, honeysuckle
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are polyphagous, feeding on a variety of deciduous trees and shrubs. They pupate in the soil, and the species typically has one generation per year.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive mottled grey and white forewings with a complex pattern of dark lines and a noticeable pale, kidney-shaped mark (reniform stigma). The overall 'cloudy' appearance is characteristic.
Description
A medium-sized moth with mottled grey and white forewings, featuring intricate dark markings and a prominent pale reniform stigma, giving it a 'stormy' or 'cloudy' appearance.
