2. Red-Line Quaker, Yellow-line Quaker and Brick These three species appear in the
Autumn - typically in October or early November. This distinguishes them from the
other Quakers which appear in the Spring
Noctuids in the sub-family Hadeninae include a number of species which are difficult
to tell apart because they are very variable. We include some of the more common
ones.
1. Common Quaker, Powdered Quaker, Small Quaker, Twin-Spotted Quaker, Clouded Drab.
These all come to light in the early Spring and, except for Powdered Quaker, may
be seen in March.
Common Quaker Wing length 13-17 mm
Powdered Quaker
Small Quaker
Twin-Spotted Quaker
Clouded Drab
Oval and kidney marks large and clearly outlined
Row of black dots between kidney mark and outer cross-line faint or absent.
Outer cross-line smoothly curved and clearly defined
Chalky appearance usually peppered with black dots.
Oval mark usually small and faint.
Row of black dots between kidney mark and outer cross-line show clearly.
Notes :
1. Common Quaker is very variable so may look quite like Powdered Quaker but with
a large oval mark.
2. Flight period for Powdered Quaker is April and May, whereas Common Quaker may
be seen in February and March as well.
Oval mark small and often faint.
Kidney mark narrow and usually dark.
Distinguished by two clear spots in the middle of the forewing near the outer edge.
However sometimes the spots are brown or orange.
Usually the spots are black.
Usually Clouded Drab is coloured a distinctive browny-grey with areas of clear brown.
However there are many colour variations.
The brown colouring above the outer cross-line is in the form of 3 blotches - in
the middle of the line and near the leading and trailing edges of the forewing.
Notes :- 1. There are two other less common species of Drab -Lead-coloured Drab
and Northern Drab -(See Hantsmoths) 2. Another common moth of this family which comes
to light in the early Spring is Hebrew Character
Wing length 12-15mm. Usually noticeably smaller than Common Quaker or Powdered Quaker
if seen together.