Cucullia gnaphalii, the cudweed, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found from most of Europe (except Ireland and most of the Balkan Peninsula)Fauna Europaea to Turkey, Transcaucasia, Mongolia and Sayan.
Technical description and variation
C. gnaphalii Hbn. (27 e). Like Cucullia xeranthemi, from which it is distinguished by the more rounded orbicular, not 8-shaped; by the absence of a black shade before outer line in submedian fold, while the black line beyond it is thickened and more conspicuous; the outer line being bent at right angles on the fold, its lower half vertical; above vein 4 a black streak from the reniform stigma, interrupted in the middle; a black streak along middle of inner margin; hindwing brownish, the basal half paler, but not nearly so pale as in xeranthemi. Larva deep green; dorsal stripe broad, red-brown; spiracles yellow on an interrupted red-brown streak; head green.Warren. W. in Seitz, A. Ed., 1914 Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde, Verlag Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart Band 3: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen eulenartigen Nachtfalter, 1914 The wingspan is 38–46 mm.
Biology Adults are on wing from May to July. There is one generation per year.
The larvae feed on the flowers and leaves of Solidago virgaurea, Solidago canadensis, Artemisia absinthium and Artemisia vulgaris hiding by day under the leaves close to the ground.
References
External links
Lepiforum e. V.
See also
Mullein moth Shark (moth)