Species Details

ABH: 73.174

BF: 2339

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Xyleninae

Taxon: Oligia latruncula

Authority: ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Vernacular: Tawny Marbled Minor

Account: Common in grassland, woodland rides, gardens and a wide range of other habitats throughout much of the British Isles Marbled Minor O. strigilis, Rufous Minor O. versicolor and Tawny Marbled Minor O. latruncula, especially their melanic forms, can only reliably be separated by dissection of the genitalia. Typical examples of Tawny Marbled Minor have the forewing blackish brown, the outer area with a distinct coppery burnish; reniform and orbicular stigmata usually indistinct except with a lens; antemedian line dentate, often very indistinct and incomplete; postmedian line curving more evenly to dorsum than in Marbled Minor (MBGBI Vol 10). It is possible with experience to assign well-marked individuals to Tawny Marbled Minor at a particular site once the observer is familiar with the forms present in that area. Larva feeds on various grasses, including Cock's-foot.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 24 — 27 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 2 May (1997) — 2 Aug (1986)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Gramineae.

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Least Concern (LC)

UK BAP:

WCA:

Moths

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Moths

Verification Grade: 4 — ️‼️Dissection required️‼️

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/oligia-latruncula/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 204

Individuals: 134

Earliest Year: 1950

Latest Year: 2024