The nutmeg (''Hadula trifolii'' or ''Anarta trifolii''), also known as the clover cutworm, is a moth of the family

Noctuidae The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are a family of moths. They are considered the most controversial family in the superfamily Noctuoidea because many of the clades are constantly changing, along with the other f ...

Distribution

It is found in the Western Palearctic (western Europe, Tunisia, Iran), Niger, and Quebec in North America. In the north of its European range it is a summer migrant, not being able to survive the cold winters. Anarta trifolii larva

Description

This is a small to medium ( wingspan 33–39 mm) species with cryptically coloured forewings, varying from light to dark brown, sometimes with a reddish tinge. The most characteristic feature is a distinctively "W"-shaped, white subterminal line. This feature is seen on some other noctuids, but usually much larger species. The hindwings are grey or buff, darker towards the termen, and marked with dark veins.

Description in Seitz

Forewing grey, dark speckled:costa black-spotted: claviform stigma small: orbicular round, pale, sometimes whitish: reniform large, the lower lobe dark grey, all three finely black-edged; veins towards termen finely black; hindwing dull whitish, with abroad border and the veins fuscous. — ''saucia'' Esp. is the form showing a tendency to an ochreous tint; - in ab. ''farkasii'' Tr. the forewing is more variegated, light and dark, the larger pale orbicular stigma and a pale patch obliquely below it forming a prominent streak; — ''indistincta'' Tutt has a uniform dull appearance, without speckling; — ''albifusa'' Walk. ow subspecies ''A. t. albifusa'' (Walker, 1857) Nova Scotia described originally from a N. American specimen, but probably a rare general aberration, has occurred at Portland, on the chalky South coast of England: it is grey with a yellowish gloss, with a pale band as in ''farkasii'', joined by a second pale oblique band from apex. - Larva varying from green to brown, thickly dark-dotted; dorsal line fine, pale, subdorsal lines broader, all black-edged; spiracular stripe broad, yellow varied with reddish.

Biology

One or two broods are produced each year, and adults can be seen at any time from May to September. This species flies at night and is attracted to light as well as to sugar and nectar-rich flowers. Flight from June to first half of July. Second generation from latter half of July to September. The larvae feed on a wide range of plants (see list below). The species overwinters as pupae.

Recorded food plants

*'' Allium'' *''Amaranthus'' –

amaranth ''Amaranthus'' is a cosmopolitan genus of annual or short-lived perennial plants collectively known as amaranths. Some amaranth species are cultivated as leaf vegetables, pseudocereals, and ornamental plants. Catkin-like cymes of densely pack ...

*''Apium'' – celery *''Arachis'' – peanut *''Asparagus'' – asparagus *''

Atriplex ''Atriplex'' () is a plant genus of about 250 species, known by the common names of saltbush and orache (; also spelled orach). It belongs to the subfamily Chenopodioideae of the family Amaranthaceae ''s.l.''. The genus is quite variable and w ...

'' *''Beta'' – beet *'' Brassica'' *'' Cannabis'' *'' Chenopodium'' – goosefoot *''Cytisus'' – broom *''Glycine'' – soybean *''Gossypium'' –

cotton plant ''Gossypium'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Gossypieae of the mallow family, Malvaceae, from which cotton is harvested. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Old and New Worlds. There are about 50 ''Gossypiu ...

*'' Halogeton'' *'' Hibiscus'' *'' Lactuca'' – lettuce *''Linum'' –

flax Flax, also known as common flax or linseed, is a flowering plant, ''Linum usitatissimum'', in the family Linaceae. It is cultivated as a food and fiber crop in regions of the world with temperate climates. Textiles made from flax are known in ...

*''Lycopersicon'' – tomato *''Medicago'' –

alfalfa Alfalfa () (''Medicago sativa''), also called lucerne, is a perennial flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. It is cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries around the world. It is used for grazing, hay, and silage, as w ...

*''Nicotiana'' – tobacco *''Petroselinum'' –

parsley Parsley, or garden parsley (''Petroselinum crispum'') is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae that is native to the central and eastern Mediterranean region (Sardinia, Lebanon, Israel, Cyprus, Turkey, southern Italy, Greece, Por ...

*''Phaseolus'' – common bean *'' Pisum'' *''Populus'' – poplar *'' Portulaca'' – purslane *''Raphanus'' – radish *''Rheum'' –

rhubarb Rhubarb is the fleshy, edible stalks ( petioles) of species and hybrids (culinary rhubarb) of ''Rheum'' in the family Polygonaceae, which are cooked and used for food. The whole plant – a herbaceous perennial growing from short, thick rhizo ...

*''Ricinus'' – castor bean *'' Salsola'' *'' Scorzonera'' *''

Sonchus ''Sonchus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae and are commonly known as sow thistles (less commonly hare thistles or hare lettuces). Sowthistles are annual, biennial or perennial herbs, with or ...

'' – sow-thistle *''Spinacia'' –

spinach Spinach (''Spinacia oleracea'') is a leafy green flowering plant native to central and western Asia. It is of the order Caryophyllales, family Amaranthaceae, subfamily Chenopodioideae. Its leaves are a common edible vegetable consumed either f ...

*''Taraxacum'' – dandelion *''Trifolium'' – clover *''Ulmus'' – elm See reference.

References

External links

Funet
Taxonomy (as ''Hadula'')
Lepiforum.de
{{Taxonbar, from=Q843371 Hadeninae Moths described in 1766 Owlet moths of Africa Moths of Asia Moths of North America Moths of Cape Verde Moths of Europe Moths of Japan Moths of the Middle East Taxa named by Johann Siegfried Hufnagel