About Xestia stigmatica (Hübner, 1813)
Xestia stigmatica, commonly known as the square-spotted clay, is a moth species belonging to the family Noctuidae. This species is distributed across most of Europe, as well as the Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Kazakhstan, northern Turkey, and northern Iran. The wingspan of adult Xestia stigmatica ranges from 37 to 44 mm. It can be distinguished from other species in the Xestia genus by its broad forewings, which are coloured greyish dark brown (sometimes with a purple tint), and the irregular broad dark band that sits between the wavy line and the outer cross line on the wings. Adult moths are active on the wing during August. The larvae of this species feed on a variety of host plants, including Rubus fruticosus, Urtica dioica, Prunus spinosa, Primula, and Betula.
