73.189 Red-line Quaker Copyright Martin Evans
73.189 Red-line Quaker red form Copyright Martin Evans
73.189 Red-line Quaker larval leaf roll in Salix cinerea Copyright Martin Evans
73.189 Red-line Quaker 14mm from leaf roll in Salix cinerea Copyright Martin Evans
73.189 Red-line Quaker spun Salix cinerea shoot Copyright Martin Evans
73.189 Red-line Quaker 16mm from spun Salix cinerea shoot Copyright Martin Evans
73.189 Red-line Quaker spun Salix cinerea shoot Copyright Martin Evans
73.189 Red-line Quaker 16mm moulting larva from Salix cinerea shoot Copyright Martin Evans
Distribution map Copyright Martin Evans
Life stages table Copyright Martin Evans 73.189 Red-line Quaker Copyright Martin Evans

Noctuidae

73.189 Red-line Quaker Leptologia lota (Clerck, 1759)

Common

Similar species: The grey to grey-brown forewing with a red outer-cross-line is enough to separate this moth from other British or Irish species.

Forewing: 15 to 18mm

Habitats: Woodland rides and clearings, scrub, carr, hedgerows, heathland, marshes, fens and gardens.

Habits: The moth visits over-ripe blackberries and Ivy blossom. It is attracted to sugar and light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds at first on catkins of Grey Willow, other sallows and occasionally poplars. When larger it feeds from a spun terminal shoot and then from between spun leaves. The full-fed larva constructs a soil-covered cocoon under the earth where it rests until it pupates up to six weeks later.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on Alder.