The Clay

Mythimna ferrago · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae

Also called: Clay, Clay Wainscot

No source yet on danger. We have no source yet on whether it bites, stings or damages anything.

The Clay moth has a wingspan of about 36 to 44 mm and its forewings range from buff-brown to orange-brown with a dark central line and a pale stigma. It lives in many grassy places, from dry slopes to moist meadows, forest clearings, villages and cultivated fields, and flies at night in July and August.

Source: Wikipedia

How to recognize it

Forewings vary from buff-brown to orange-brown, usually with a dark longitudinal line interrupted by a pale stigma. Hindwings are dark grey with paler margins; males have a triangular black hair patch on the underside of the abdomen.

Source: Wikipedia

Size

Wingspan ranges from 36 to 44 mm.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it lives

Found in almost any grassy habitat, from dry warm slopes to cool moist meadows near water. Also occurs on forest paths, clearings, in villages and cultivated land.

Source: Wikipedia

Life cycle

Overwinters as a small larva.

Source: Wikipedia

When you see it

Adults fly at night during July and August.

Source: Wikipedia

Where it comes from

Distributed across Europe and parts of North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and western temperate North Asia, including Tibet.

Source: Wikipedia

Lookalikes

Colour forms vary: the typical ferrago is the reddest, grisea is grey without red, fulvescens is rare with fulvous tones, and ab. marginata has silvery grey hindwings with a broad dark border.

Source: Wikipedia