Noctuidae

73.079 Silvery Gem Eucarta virgo (Treitschke, 1835)

Immigrant / Adventive

Similar species: A grey moth with a pale pink and sometimes pale green suffusion across the wings. It has the white inner and outer cross-lines meeting, to give the effect of a cross, across the forewings. There are two chocolate coloured blocks each side of the oblique oval which are linked to the leading edge by a paler brown colouring. This moth is unlikely to be mistaken for any other British or Irish species.

Forewing: 12 to 14mm

Habitats: In Europe it inhabits open or scrubby grassland, marshy grassland, fallow fields, damp field margins, stream margins and river-banks.

Habits: The moth comes to light and sugar.

Foodplant: The early stages have not been recorded in Britain. On the European mainland the larva feeds on Field Wormwood, Mugwort, Dandelion, Tansy and mints. It pupates in a soil-covered cocoon under the soil.