clouded drab vs leafless swallow-wort

Orthosia incerta compared with Orthosia scoparia

Key Differences

• clouded drab is Least Concern while leafless swallow-wort is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	clouded drab	leafless swallow-wort
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order same	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family same	Noctuidae	Noctuidae
Genus same	Orthosia	Orthosia
Species	Orthosia incerta	Orthosia scoparia

Evolutionary Relationship

clouded drab and leafless swallow-wort share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Orthosia.

Conservation Status

clouded drab

LC — Least Concern

leafless swallow-wort

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	clouded drab	leafless swallow-wort
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

clouded drab

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

leafless swallow-wort

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Brazil and Colombia.

clouded drab

The clouded drab (Orthosia incerta) is a noctuid moth in the family Noctuidae and one of the characteristic early-spring moths of temperate Europe and western Asia, flying from February to April when most other moth species are inactive. The adult wingspan measures approximately 35–42 mm with variable forewings ranging from pale greyish-buff through warm reddish-brown to dark grey-brown, bearing subtle cross-lines, stigmata, and the clouded, diffuse shading that gives the species its common name. The variability of the clouded drab has historically created confusion with related Orthosia species. Adults emerge early in the year, taking nectar from sallow catkins and other early-spring flowers. Larvae feed on the foliage of deciduous trees and shrubs including oak, hawthorn, birch, and hazel in woodland, scrub, and hedgerow habitats. The clouded drab is one of the more numerous and widespread spring moths in Britain and northern Europe, routinely recorded at light traps and regarded as an indicator of woodland health. The early flight season makes it an important pollinator of early-flowering trees and shrubs in temperate woodland systems.