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Wednesday, 22 October 2025

22-10-2025 MONTE CORONA, VALENCI - CUTWORM AND DART MOTH (Polymixis dubia)

Lepidoptera of the family Noctuidae and the subfamily Noctuinae . It is a regular visitor in Valencia.

It has a wingspan of about 37 mm. It usually has light and dark gray tones with whitish or straw-colored areas. The dark gray tones are usually more concentrated in the transverse median third of the anterior part of the forewing, while the margins are usually lighter.

Its caterpillars are polyphagous although they seem to prefer Cistus.


Atlanto-Mediterranean. Restricted European distribution, from the Iberian Peninsula to northern Italy. In France, present in the Mediterranean zone, it goes up to Saône-et-Loire, but is absent from Corsica. Of variable habitus, this thermophilic noctuid frequents scrubland and calcareous lawns, up to 1500 m altitude. The caterpillar feeds on Cistus , Rumex , Taraxacum , and other low plants and shrubs.

No protection and/or heritage status for this species.