| Clay | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Noctuoidea |
| Family: | Noctuidae |
| Genus: | Mythimna |
| Species: | M. ferrago
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mythimna ferrago (Fabricius, 1787)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Aletia ferrago | |
Mythimna ferrago, the clay, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1787. It is distributed throughout Europe[1] and is also found in Morocco, Algeria, Turkey, Asia Minor, Armenia, Syria, Turkestan, Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Central Asia and the western parts of temperate North Asia. Also Tibet.
The forewings of this species vary from buffish to orangey brown, usually with a darker central line running longways down the wing, interrupted by a pale stigma.[2] There are usually a few small dark spots in the basal area. The hindwings are dark grey with paler margins. The male is easily recognizable by a triangular area of black hair on the underside of the abdomen. The wingspan is 36–44 mm. This moth flies at night in July and August[1] and is attracted to light and sugar.
- ^ Chinery, Michael (1986, reprinted 1991). Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe.
- ^ Skinner, Bernard (1984). The Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles.