The Clay
Common NameThe Clay
Scientific NameMythimna ferrago
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyHadeninae
Wingspan (mm)39
Primary Colorsreddish-brown, ochre
HabitatWoodlands, gardens, hedgerows, grasslands, open country
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, temperate Asia
Host Plantsvarious grasses, dandelion, plantain
Flight PeriodMay to October (two broods)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are typically green or brown, feeding on various grasses and low-growing herbaceous plants. The species overwinters as a larva.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive reddish-brown to clay-colored forewings with a prominent white kidney-shaped spot (reniform stigma) and a smaller white round spot (orbicular stigma), often accompanied by a dark central streak.
Description
A medium-sized moth with reddish-brown to ochreous forewings, characterized by a prominent white reniform stigma and a smaller white orbicular stigma, often with a darker central streak.
