73.074 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw)
fw: 16-19mm; usually a scarce migrant, but can 100s can occur in some years; all year, mostly Jun-Aug; in good migration years breeding may occur on the S.England coast.
Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw) §1 male
ID: Forewing ground colour varies from pale straw (migrants where the larvae have fed in hot climates) to chocolate-brown; kidney mark prominent and grey with a brown wedge between it and the costa; diffuse subterminal fascia with a brown blotch at its costal end; a distinct black spot at tornus. Hindwing has a broad dark terminal band. Helicoverpa armigera (Scarce Bordered Straw) usually has a less prominent kidney mark, lacks the brown costal marks and the black tornal spot. H.nubigera (Eastern Bordered Straw) has a distinct indentation in the distal border of the subterminal fascia (at about 1/3 from the costa) and a terminal row of at least 3 black dots (best marked towards the apex). MBGBI10 also comment that the hindwing of H.nubigera is a purer white with a less extensive dark border than is seen in H.peltigera.
§1 Portland, Dorset; 19/06/2015; male; fw 17.2mm; to light
§2 Portland, Dorset; 19/06/2015; female; fw 17.2mm; to light
§3 Portland, Dorset; 19/06/2015; male; fw 16.7mm; to light
§4 St Marys, Isles of Scilly; 07/10/2018; female; fw 15.2mm; to light
§5 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 19/05/2022; male; fw 17.3mm; to light
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Portland, Dorset; 19/06/2015; female; fw 17.2mm; to light
§3 Portland, Dorset; 19/06/2015; male; fw 16.7mm; to light
§4 St Marys, Isles of Scilly; 07/10/2018; female; fw 15.2mm; to light
§5 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 19/05/2022; male; fw 17.3mm; to light
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 2015 (§1-3) | §4 added 18/11/2018 | §5 added 02/09/2022
