The lychnis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Noctuidae |
Genus: | Hadena |
Species: | H. bicruris |
Binomial name | |
Hadena bicruris Hufnagel, 1766 |
The lychnis (Hadena bicruris) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in northern and western Europe and Turkey. It has an Atlantic-Mediterranean distribution. In the East Palearctic it is replaced by Hadena capsincola.
This species has dark brown forewings marked with two prominent white-bordered stigmata and a white subterminal line. The hindwings are buffish, darkening to brown towards the margin but with a prominent white fringe. The wingspan is 30–40 mm. One or two broods are produced each year and adults can be seen between May and September. Flight is from June to July.
The larva feeds on various Caryophyllaceae such as Dianthus, Lychnis, Saponaria and Silene. The species overwinters as a pupa.