Heliothis nubigera
Heliothis nubigera, the eastern bordered straw, is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in arid areas in the Palearctic realm.
Technical description and variation
The wingspan is 35–40 mm. Forewing greyish ochreous; reniform stigma dark grey, attached to the grey costal median spot; orbicular annular with grey centre; outer line lunulate dentate, the teeth whitish, separated by a brown shade from the subterminal line; hindwing pearly white with broad blackish outer border, containing a double whitish blotch between veins 2 and 4; veins and cell spot dark; fringe white.Similar species
Heliothis peltigera shows a more prominent pattern and darker hind wings. The clear kidney blemishes are connected to the anterior margin.The cotton bollworm moth is lighter in colour and has a lower contrast.Biology
Adults are on wing year round and there are probably two generations.Larva red-brown, dorsal line darker, subdorsal band alternately black and white; a diffused brown sublateral band. The larvae are polyphagous on various wild herbaceous plants. Recorded food plants include Zygophyllum, globe thistles, honeysuckle, Mediterranean saltbush, Retama raetam, Suaeda asphaltica and bushy bean-caper.
Distribution
It is found in all the Levant countries.Image:PhryganaRodos.JPG|thumb|230px|right|Garrigue habitat, Rhodes