Bug FAQCentre-barred Sallow
Atethmia centrago · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Noctuidae
Source: Wikipedia
The Centre-barred Sallow has a wingspan of about 32 to 36 mm and its forewings are deep yellow with a distinctive grey-purple central band edged by pale lines. It flies in one generation from August to early October and is found across most of Europe, parts of Asia Minor, Armenia, Syria and Palestine. The caterpillars mainly feed on ash trees.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Forewings are deep yellow with a grey-purple central fascia, bordered inward by a pale vertical line and outward by a sinuous line; the hindwings are dull white becoming yellow-rufous toward the edge.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 32 to 36 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars mainly feed on ash trees.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The adult moth flies in a single generation from August to early October.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from August through early October.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes most of Europe (excluding Scandinavia and Italy) and parts of the Near East such as Asia Minor, Armenia, Syria and Palestine.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Similar forms include the paler ‘pallida’ from Asia Minor and the yellowish ‘maculifera’ from Syria and Palestine, which differ in overall colour and the shape of the reniform stigma.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see the Centre-barred Sallow?
Adults fly in one generation from August to early October.
Source: Wikipedia
What other moths look similar?
The paler ‘pallida’ form from Asia Minor and the ‘maculifera’ form from Syria and Palestine can be confused with it, but they differ in colour tone and wing markings.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Noctuidae)
Ipsilon Dart MothAgrotis ipsilonDamages trees, gardens or crops
Fall Armyworm MothSpodoptera frugiperdaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Army Cutworm MothEuxoa auxiliarisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Large Yellow UnderwingNoctua pronubaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Silver ΥAutographa gamma
American DaggerAcronicta americanaCan irritate skinSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atethmia_centrago
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.