Xestia rhaetica is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in northern Europe, central Fennoscandia, northern Russia and further east to Siberia[verification needed]. It is also present in the Tatra Mountains and the Bohemian Forest. In the Alps it is found on altitudes between 1,000 and 2,500 meters, but it is found at sea level in northern Europe. The species is also present in the Nearctic, including New York.

Xestia rhaetica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Xestia
Species:
X. rhaetica
Binomial name
Xestia rhaetica
(Staudinger, 1871)
Synonyms

Agrotis speciosa var. rhaetica Staudinger, 1871
Anomogyna homogena McDunnough, 1921
Anomogyna rhaetica (Staudinger, 1871)
Xestia conditoides (Benjamin, 1934[verification needed])
Xestia homogena (McDunnough, 1921)
Xestia homogena conditoides (Benjamin, 1934[verification needed])
Xestia obscura Helbig, 1932

The wingspan is 38–45 mm. Adults are on the wing from July to August in one generation.

The larvae mainly feed on Vaccinium myrtillus.

Subspecies

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  • Xestia rhaetica rhaetica (Staudinger, 1871) – Alps (except N)
  • Xestia rhaetica norica – N Alps (Austria), Tatra
  • Xestia rhaetica homogena (McDunnough 1921) (including conditoides)
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