| Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica (Linnaeus, 1758)) |
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Scientific name: Orthosia gothica (Linnaeus, 1758) Common name: Hebrew Character French name: Gothique Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Heterocera Family: Noctuidae Subfamily: Hadeninae Wingspan: 33-40 mm. Biotope: Various habitats, woodland edges, shrubs, parks and gardens. Geographic area: Western Europe north to the Arctic regions. Flight time: March to May. Number of generations : 1 Caterpillar: Slightly shining green and hairless. It shows three thin yellowish dorsal lines, sometimes hardly visible, and one broad white lateral band with very sharp edges. This white band is sometimes located under a dark band not so sharply drawn. Host plant: Many deciduous trees including Goat Willow (Salix caprea), European Aspen (Populus tremula) and English Oak (Quercus robur) among others and numerous plants including Common Nettle (Urtica dioica), etc. |
The Hebrew Character's fore wings vary in colour from purple brown to greyish brown. The median area shows a dark mark, almost black (though sometimes pale brown), drawing the shape of a gothic character resembling the "Nun" Hebrew character. You can distinguish a C shape whose inside curve, well rounded, is facing the costal edge of the wing. There is a small dark dash-shaped mark at the back of the C mark. The hind wings are pale brownish grey with a whitish fringe. The Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) shows a similar C shaped mark. However, the inside curve of this C is less rounded and rather looks like a wide V shape. There is no small dash-shaped mark at the back of the C mark. The Hebrew Character over winters as a chrysalis. |
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I have found this caterpillar on the ground in my garden. I have immediately thought that this large white lateral band would be the key to identify the species. |
André Bon November 2912