| Aedia funesta (Esper, 1766) |
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Scientific name: Aedia funesta (Esper, 1766) Common name: French name: Pie Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Heterocera Family: Noctuidae Subfamily: Acontiinae Wingspan: 30-35 mm. Biotope: Open areas, open woodlands, waste lands, parks and gardens. Cultivated areas and sandy places. Geographic area: Southern Europe, Central Europe, Iran. Flight time: April to October. Number of generations : 2 Caterpillar: Beige sprinkled with back spots and with longitudinal orange lines. One darker stripe is running over the spiracles. The under side is a lighter colour. Host plant: Bindweeds (Convolvulus sp. and Calystegia sp.). |
Aedia funesta is a noctuidae with dark blackish fore wings showing two pale-coloured triangular subapical patches ending with a short and thin extension. You can see one black and wavy antemedian line and one similar postdiscal line. The hind wings are a pure white colour on the basal half and black on the marginal half. The fringe is white with some beige colour near the outer edge. The Eastern Alchymist (Aedia leucomelas) does not show a so pale-coloured subapical patch on the fore wings. It also shows a very small pale mark just after the reniform patch on the apical side. The Four-spotted Moth (Tyta luctuosa) has a less triangular subapical patch, a little longer and with a rounded end. |
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This moth did not flew away from the photographer. It stayed on the ground, showing its hind wings and quickly vibrating its fore wings. This must be a behaviour intended to intimidate any eventual predator. And this is very convenient for the photographer who wants to shoot a close up view. |
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The pale subapical patches, highly contrasting with the black ground colour, confirm the species identification. |
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Certainly attracted to light, this noctuid moth entered into the kitchen. It had to wait the end of a short photo session before being freed outdoor. |
André Bon February 2025