Six-striped rustic
# Six-striped rustic

The six-striped rustic (Xestia sexstrigata) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is distributed throughout Europe apart from the far south east.

This is a fairly small species with a wingspan of 36–38 mm. It has pale brown forewings marked with six dark fascia although some of these can be indistinct. The hindwings are pale buff, darker towards the margin.

## Technical description and variation

Forewing greyish rufous, the veins dark grey; stigmata with dark outlines; the claviform with the apex only marked; orbicular sometimes paler; lines and shades all dark and distinct; hindwing luteous fuscous, darker towards termen; fringe yellowish.

## Biology

The moth flies at night in July and August and is attracted to light and sugar, as well as the flowers of ragwort.

Larva yellowish brown; dorsal and subdorsal lines pale, the latter black -edged above. The larva feeds on various herbaceous plants including dock, plantain and various grasses. The species overwinters as a larva.

* ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.
