Setaceous Hebrew character
Its forewing carries a bold black mark resembling a Hebrew letter next to a pale straw-colored patch, a pairing that gave the moth its unusual name.
| Where | Gardens, hedgerows and grassland |
|---|---|
| Size | 35 to 42 mm wingspan |
| When | May to October |
The forewing is purplish brown to reddish brown with a pale, straw-colored wedge near the leading edge set against a black mark, giving a wingspan of 35 to 42 mm.
Caterpillars feed at night on low-growing plants and hide near the ground by day, and the species can appear in very large numbers in some years.
Traits
Habitat
Garden
Colour
Brown, Yellow
Active
Night
To people
Harmless
Activity through the year
Often confused with
The triple-spotted clay lacks the pale, wedge-shaped mark on the forewing that stands out clearly on the setaceous Hebrew character.
Questions
Is the Setaceous Hebrew character dangerous to people?
The Setaceous Hebrew character is harmless to people.
When can you see the Setaceous Hebrew character?
The Setaceous Hebrew character can be seen from May to October, at night.
Plate retouched from a photo by Ben Sale from UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons Licence
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Butterflies and moths›Owlet moths›Xestia
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.