The 'Grey Chi' (''Antitype chi'') is a
moth of the family
Noctuidae. It is distributed throughout
Europe.
This species has grey forewings speckled with black markings which vary in intensity (with the female generally more heavily marked than the male). There is usually a bold cross-shaped black mark in the centre of the wing which has been likened to the Greek letter
Chi and gives the species its common name. The hindwings are white in the male, dirty grey in the female. This moth flies at night in August and September and is attracted to light and sugar.
The
larva is bluish green with green and white lines down each side and feeds on the
leaves and
flowers of a variety of
plants (see list below). The species overwinters as an
egg.
#''The flight season refers to the
British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.''
Recorded food plants
★ ''Artemisia'' -
mugwort
★ ''
Convallaria'' - lily of the valley
★ ''Helianthus'' -
Jerusalem artichoke
★ ''Lactuca'' -
lettuce
★ ''Lathyrus'' -
meadow vetchling
★ ''
Lychnis'' - campion
★ ''Ribes'' -
blackcurrant
★ ''
Rumex''
★ ''Salix'' -
willow
★ ''Saxifraga'' -
saxifrage
★ ''
Sedum'' - stonecrop
★ ''
Silene'' - campion
★ ''
Sonchus'' - sow thistle
★ ''Taraxacum'' -
dandelion
★ ''
Triglochin''
★ ''Urtica'' -
stinging nettle
★ ''Viburnum'' -
guelder rose
References
★ 'Chinery, Michael' ''Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe'' 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
★ 'Skinner, Bernard' ''Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles'' 1984