Noctuidae

73.075 Eastern Bordered Straw Heliothis nubigera Herrich-Schäffer, 1851

Immigrant

Similar species: Bordered Straw Heliothis peltigera is a pale to light brown moth. It lacks the two distinct notches on the outer edge of the darker outer band and has only tiny or no black dots along the outer edge at the base of the fringe except for in the trailing corner. Scarce Bordered Straw Helicoverpa armigera has variable and often obscure but visible markings on a warm brown forewing (rather than a pale forewing with stronger red-brown markings). It lacks the two distinct notches on the outer edge of the darker outer band and only has tiny (rather than distinct) black dots along the inside of the fringe. The most obvious one being in the trailing corner.

Forewing: 16 to 20mm

Habitats: In Europe it inhabits open areas such as arid slopes, open dry grassland, low arid scrub and dry coastal habitats.

Habits: The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The early stages have not been recorded in Britain. In north Africa and southernmost Europe the larva feeds on rest-harrows, crane's-bills, stork's-bills, chrysanthemum, globe thistles, Giant Fennel, Tomato, Pot Marigold, honeysuckles, oraches, sea-blites and other wild and cultivated plants.