Setaceous Hebrew Character

An easily identified species by the bright straw-coloured triangular marking on the leading edge of the forewing adjacent to a black mark which is thought to look like a letter from the Hebrew alphabet. The rest of the forewings are greyish brown or dark grey.

The larvae can be found June to July and September to April feeding at night and hiding close to the ground by day. The adults come to light, often in large numbers.

Size and Family

• Family – Darts, yellow underwings and clays (Noctuidae)
• Small Sized
• Wingspan Range – 28-38mm

Conservation status

• UK BAP: Not listed
• Common

Caterpillar Food Plants

A wide range of herbaceous plants including Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), White Dead-nettle (Lamium album), willowherbs and burdocks.

Habitat

Typically found in lowland habitats such as gardens but also woodland and marshes.

Distribution

• Countries – England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland
• Common and well distributed throughout Britain, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Frequent in the east and south of Ireland. Widespread and abundant in the Channel Islands.