Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) ➔ Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods) ➔ Class Insecta (Insects) ➔ Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and moths) ➔ Family Noctuidae (Owlet moths)
Trachea atriplicis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Meldeneule Orache Moth
Synonyms and other combinations:
Noctua atriplicis Linnaeus, 1758 [original combination] | Hadena gnoma Butler, 1878 | Trachea similis Staudinger, 1892 |
Classification:
Trachea atriplicis belongs to the subfamily Xyleninae, tribe Dypterygiini.Distribution:
Europe, eastwards through wide parts of Asia to the Pacific Ocean and Japan.Habitat:
Forest edges and paths, meadows, parks, gardens, ruderal areas.Description:
The Orache Moth is a medium-sized moth with a wingspan of 38 - 50 mm. The hind wings are light brown to grey-brown. Due to the characteristic pattern and colouring of the forewings, at least fresh specimens of Trachea atriplicis are unmistakable.Biology:
From May onwards, the moths fly in 1 to 2 generations, depending on local climatic conditions. They are nocturnal and attracted by light sources.The polyphagous caterpillars feed on various low plants, such as Orache (Atriplex), Goosefoot (Chenopodium), Knotweed (Polygonum) and Sorrel (Rumex). They pupate in autumn in the ground.
The Orache Moth Trachea atriplicis hibernates as a pupa.
Note:
The moth shown here was attracted by the light, flew into the apartment through the open balcony door and settled in the upper part of the curtain at midnight.References, further reading, links:
- Acontia sp.
- Agrotis boeticus
- Caradrina sp.
- Cornutiplusia circumflexa
- Cucullia calendulae
- Diachrysia chrysitis/stenochrysis
- Hoplodrina sp.
- Noctua janthe/janthina
- Oligia latruncula/versicolor
- Plusiinae sp.
- Alder Moth
- Angle Shades
- Antler Moth
- Beautiful Golden Y
- Beautiful Hook-tip
- Blossom Underwing
- Bordered Straw
- Brick
- Bright-line Brown-eye
- Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
- Brown-line Bright Eye
- Brown-spot Pinion
- Cabbage Moth
- Chestnut
- Clay
- Clouded Drab
- Common Quaker
- Copper Underwing
- Crescent Dart
- Dark Arches
- Dot Moth
- Dun-bar
- Flame Shoulder
- Four-spotted
- Green-brindled Crescent
- Heart and Dart
- Hebrew Character
- Knot Grass
- Large Yellow Underwing
- Lesser Yellow Underwing
- Marbled Minor
- Marbled White Spot
- Olive
- Orache Moth
- Pale Mottled Willow
- Pale Shoulder
- Pink-barred Sallow
- Poplar Grey
- Pretty Marbled
- Purple Clay
- Satellite
- Scarce Bordered Straw
- Setaceous Hebrew Character
- Silver Barred
- Silver Y
- Slender Brindle
- Slender Burnished Brass
- Small Angle Shades
- Small Quaker
- Small Yellow Underwing
- Smoky Wainscot
- Spotted Clover
- Spotted Sulphur
- Sprawler
- Square-spot Rustic
- Svensson's Copper Underwing
- Sycamore
- The Uncertain
- Treble Lines
- Turnip Moth
- Twin-spotted Quaker
- Water Betony
- White-point
- Yellow-line Quaker