Xestia speciosa

Xestia speciosa is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in northern Europe, including Fennoscandia, the Baltic region, parts of Russia and further through northern Asia to the Pacific Ocean and Japan. It is also found in the mountainous areas of central and southern Europe. It is also present in north-western North America.

Xestia speciosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Noctuidae
Genus:
Xestia
Species:
X. speciosa
Binomial name
Xestia speciosa
(Hübner, [1813])
Synonyms
  • Noctua speciosa Hübner, [1813]
  • Anomogyna speciosa
  • Ophiusa schoenherri Herrich-Schäffer, [1852] (preocc.)
  • Aplecta schoennherri Guenée, 1852
  • Hadena arctica Zetterstedt, 1839
  • Xestia baltica Valle, 1940
  • Aplectoides livalis Smith, 1910
  • Anomogyna aklavicensis Benjamin, 1933
  • Acronycta mixta Walker, 1856
  • Xestia apropitia (Benjamin, 1933)
  • Anomogyna apropitia Benjamin, 1933

Some authors treat Xestia apropitia as a valid species, while Mikkola, Lafontaine and Kononenko (1996) placed it as a subspecies of Xestia speciosa.

The wingspan of ssp. speciosa is 38–50 mm. Subspecies arctica has a wingspan of 36–45 mm. Adults are on wing from June to August in one generation.

The larvae feed on various low-growing plants, including Vaccinium myrtillus, Lonicera nigra and Betula nana.

Subspecies

Note that only speciosa, arctica and modesta are confirmed subspecies. The other listed subspecies need further study to confirm their status. Xestia viridescens is sometimes included here as another subspecies.

Generally accepted
  • Xestia speciosa speciosa (Hübner, 1813) (Germany)
  • Xestia speciosa modesta (Alps)
  • Xestia speciosa arctica (Zetterstedt 1839) (northern Europe, northern Canada south to the northern parts of the mountains in Alberta)
Disputed
  • Xestia speciosa aegrota (Alpheraky 1897) (Siberia, northern Mongolia)
  • Xestia speciosa aklavikensis (Nearctic)
  • Xestia speciosa apropitia (Benjamin, 1933) (Colorado)
  • Xestia speciosa baltica (Valle 1940)
  • Xestia speciosa janae Herz, 1903
  • Xestia speciosa livalis (Nearctic)
  • Xestia speciosa mixta
  • Xestia speciosa rybatchiensis Kotzsch 1934
  • Xestia speciosa ussurica (north-eastern Siberia to Korea and Japan)
  • Lepiforum e. V.
  • Schmetterlinge-Deutschlands.de
  • Anweiler, G. G. (2007). "Species Details Xestia speciosa". University of Alberta Museums. E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum. Retrieved November 8, 2020.


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