Photo © Mike Wall

Hebrew Character

Orthosia gothica

Checklist Number
73.249 [B&F: 2190]

Verification
Record will be accepted (subject to date and location checks)

Classification

Family:Noctuidae
Subfamily:Hadeninae
Genus:Orthosia
Species:gothica
Authority:(Linnaeus, 1758)

Common often abundant, in all types of habitat throughout the British Isles. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 30-40 mm. One of the commonest visitors to the light trap in early spring, but occasionally, around mid-May, appearing at the same time as the superficially similar Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum. Larva polyphagous on a great many deciduous trees and shrubs, including Oak, Birch, Hawthorn, Sallow, Lime and Bilberry, and herbaceous plants such as Meadowsweet and Stinging Nettle, over-wintering as a pupa.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)