Eugraphe sigma

Eugraphe sigma
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Noctuidae
Genus:	Eugraphe
Species:	E. sigma
Binomial name
Eugraphe sigma (Schiffermüller, 1775)
Synonyms
Noctua sigma Denis & Schiffermuller, 1775 Agrotis signum Noctua characterea [Schiffermüller], 1775 Phalaena (Noctua) characterea Esper, [1803] Phalaena (Noctua) ditrapezium Esper, [1803] Phalaena (Noctua) characterea Esper, 1790 Phalaena (Noctua) nubila Esper, 1789 Phalaena (Noctua) nubila Esper, 1798 Phalaena (Noctua) ditrapezium Esper, 1790 Noctua signum Fabricius, 1787 Noctua umbra Vieweg, 1789 Noctua signa Hampson, 1903 Noctua terminalis Strand, 1915 Eugraphe sigma f. obscura Lempke, 1939 Eugraphe sigma f. rufa Lempke, 1939

Eugraphe sigma is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found from most of Europe (except Ireland, Great Britain, the Iberian Peninsula and Greece) to the Ural, Siberia, Transcaucasia, Armenia and Korea.

The length of the forewings is 17–20 mm. Adults are on wing from June to July in one generation per year.

The larvae feed on various low-growing plants, including Lamium album, Viburnum lantana, Laburnum anagyroides, Prunus spinosa, Lonicera and Ligustrum species. Young larvae live in the top parts of the host plant. The species overwinters in the larval stage. After overwintering, the larvae hide during the day and feed on the terminal part of the twigs during the night. Pupation takes place in the ground.

Subspecies

• Eugraphe sigma sigma
• Eugraphe sigma melancholina Bryk, 1949 (Korea)
• Eugraphe sigma anthracina Boursin, 1954