Orthosia populeti, the lead-coloured drab, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in Europe.
The wingspan is 34–40 mm. The length of the forewings is 15–17 mm. Meyrick describes it -Antennae in male bipectinated. Forewings brown-grey, slightly purplish-tinged ; first, median, and second lines somewhat darker, especially on costa ; orbicular and reniform darker, outlined with pale ; subterminal line pale greyish-ochreous, edged anteriorly in middle with two small red-brown or black marks. Hindwings grey. Larva pale green or greenish-whitish ; dorsal, subdorsal, and spiracular lines whitish ; head pale greenish-ochreous, more or less blackmarked.[1]Orthosia populeti is difficult to certainly distinguish from its congener Orthosia incerta See Townsend et al.[2]
Figs.3, 3a, 3b larva after last moult
The moth flies in one generation from the beginning of March to May [1].
The egg is greyish white with dark grey girdled dots. When full grown the caterpillar is whitish or yellowish green, but always whitish on the back: three white lines on the back, the central one rather broad; head ochreous brown with a blackish spot on each side.
The caterpillars mainly feed on aspen.
Notes
^The flight season refers to Belgium and the Netherlands. This may vary in other parts of the range.
References
^Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
