About Orthosia populeti Fabricius, 1781
Orthosia populeti, commonly known as the lead-coloured drab, is a moth species belonging to the family Noctuidae. It is found in Europe. This species has a wingspan of 34–40 mm, and the forewings measure 15–17 mm in length. Meyrick gives the following description: The antennae of male individuals are bipectinated. Forewings are brown-grey with a slight purplish tinge; the first, median, and second lines are somewhat darker, particularly along the costa. The orbicular and reniform spots are darker, outlined with pale colour. The subterminal line is pale greyish-ochreous, edged on the anterior side in the middle with two small red-brown or black marks. Hindwings are grey. The larva is pale green or greenish-whitish, with whitish dorsal, subdorsal, and spiracular lines. The head is pale greenish-ochreous, marked more or less with black. Orthosia populeti is difficult to certainly distinguish from its congener Orthosia incerta; for further details see Townsend et al. The moth flies in one generation per year from early March to May. The egg is greyish white, marked with dark grey dotted girdles. When fully grown, the caterpillar is whitish or yellowish green, always whitish on the back. It has three white lines along the back, with the central line being rather broad; the head is ochreous brown with a blackish spot on each side. Caterpillars of this species mainly feed on aspen.
