Trachea atriplicis (Linnaeus, 1758) Species
Last modified: Nov. 19, 2025, 11:54 a.m.
A fairly common species throughout Belgium. Numbers vary much over the years.
This species is considered Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List category for Flanders 2023.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Noctuidae > Subfamily: Xyleninae > Tribus: Dypterygiini > Genus: Trachea > Species: Trachea atriplicis
- Vernacular names
- Meldevlinder (NL), Orache Moth (EN), La Noctuelle de l'Arroche (FR), Meldeneule (DE)
- First mention in Belgium
- De Sélys-Longchamps E. 1844. Énumération des insectes Lépidoptères de la Belgique. — Mémoires de la Société royale des Sciences de Liége 2: 1–35. On page 12 (as Hadena atriplicis). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan 38–42 mm.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Bionomics
Hibernates as a pupa underground. The adults come to light and sugar.
No pictures yet!
Flight periods
The adults fly from mid-May till mid-October in two generations a year. The second one is usually partial.
Observed on
- Host plant (genera):
- Polygonum, Rumex, Atriplex and Chenopodium
- Substrates:
- Herbaceous plants
The larva lives on various herbaceous plants like Rumex and Polygonum aviculare, but mainly on Atriplex or Chenopodium.
No pictures yet!
