Hebrew character

Appearance

For a key to the terms used, see :Glossary of entomology terms.
The wingspan is 30–40 mm. Forewing sandy rufous, black-speckled, median area generally deeper rufous: lines browner, Forewing purplish red-brown; the lines pale, ill-defined, except by black spots at costa; the cell black; stigmata pale and large; claviform connected with outer line by a black bar; above which the base of vein 2 is often surrounded with rufous; hindwing fuscous.The size of the orbicular stigma is variable, and the amount and shape of the black filling in of the cell is determined by this variation; — in ab. ''gothicina'' H.-Sch. the black markings are replaced by olive brown or rufous; it is a northern form, occurring in Scotland, Scandinavia, and Finland, and in the
Tarbagatai Mountains: — ''askoldensis'' Stgr. [now full species ''Orthosia askoldensis''] from Amurland and Japan has a more violet grey ground colour; ab. ''pallida'' Tutt has a pale whitish ochreous ground colour; — in ''rufescens'' Tutt the reddish tint is predominant: - in ''rufa'' Tutt the ground colour is red; — and in ''brunnea'' Tutt the rufous tints give place to purplish brown.

Behavior

This moth flies at night in March and April and is attracted to light and various flowers.

Larva green dotted all over with yellow; dorsal and subdorsal lines yellowish white; spiracular line broad, white, with dark upper edge; head pale green. It feeds on a wide variety of plants . This species overwinters as a pupa.

Food

*''Alnus'' – grey alder
⤷ ''Betula'' – birch
⤷ ''Cannabis'' – hemp
⤷ ''Centaurea''
⤷ ''Corylus'' – common hazel
⤷ ''Epilobium'' – rosebay willowherb
⤷ ''Filipendula'' – meadowsweet
⤷ ''Hieracium'' – hawkweed
⤷ ''Humulus'' – hop
⤷ ''Lythrum'' – purple loosestrife
⤷ ''Malus'' – apple
⤷ ''Polygonatum'' – Solomon's seal
⤷ ''Polygonum''
⤷ ''Populus'' – aspen
⤷ ''Prunus''
⤷ ''Quercus'' – oak
⤷ ''Ranunculus'' buttercup
⤷ ''Rhamnus'' – buckthorn
⤷ ''Ribes'' – currant
⤷ ''Rubus'' – raspberry
⤷ ''Rumex''
⤷ ''Salix'' – willow
⤷ ''Saxifraga'' – saxifrage
⤷ ''Sorbus'' – rowan
⤷ ''Tilia'' - large-leaved lime
⤷ ''Vaccinium'' – bilberry

See Robinson, G. S et al.