# Common Quaker

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The **common Quaker** (*Orthosia cerasi*) is a [moth](/source/Moth) of the family [Noctuidae](/source/Noctuidae) [first described](/source/Species_description) by [Johan Christian Fabricius](/source/Johan_Christian_Fabricius) in 1775. Some authors prefer the synonym *Orthosia stabilis* ([Denis](/source/Michael_Denis) & [Schiffermüller](/source/Ignaz_Schifferm%C3%BCller), 1775). It is distributed throughout [Europe](/source/Europe) and is also found in [Turkey](/source/Turkey), [Palestine (region)](/source/Palestine_(region)), [Transcaucasia](/source/Transcaucasia), [Russia](/source/Russia) and eastern [Siberia](/source/Siberia).

This is a variable [species](/source/Species), the ground colour of the forewings ranging from greyish to orangey brown, sometimes with a broad dark band. The most distinctive features are two large [stigmata](/source/Glossary_of_entomology_terms), each edged by a narrow pale line, with a similarly coloured subterminal line. The hindwings are drab grey or brown.

## Technical description and variation

The [wingspan](/source/Wingspan) is 34–40 mm.[1][2] Forewing reddish grey, more or less dusted with dark: inner and outer lines blackish, indistinct; orbicular and reniform stigmata ringed with ochreous; submarginal line ochreous preceded by a fuscous or rufous shade; claviform mostly unmarked; veins towards termen pale: hindwing grey, the fringe paler. The species varies according to the amount of red present; — ab. *pallida* Tutt is pale grey, sometimes with an ochreous flush; — *obliqua* Vill. is darker grey with markings clearer; — *suffusa* Tutt is an equally well marked blackish-grey form; of these grey forms the second only *obliqua* Vill. is common; on the other hand when the red tints predominate we get the form *rufa* Tutt, which is also rare; - in *junctus* Haw. the upper stigmata, usually separate, are coherent; this accidental connection occurs in all the forms occasionally: — in ab. *rufannulata* Haw. the stigmata are edged with, and the submarginal line is coloured rufous instead of ochreous.[3]

## Biology

This moth flies at night in March and April and is attracted to light and sugar. The adult moth feeds on flower nectar such as [Sallow catkins](/source/Salix_caprea) and the flowers of [Blackthorn](/source/Blackthorn).[4]

Larva green thickly dotted with yellowish white; all the lines yellowish white; anal segment with a yellowish-white cross bar; head green with black spots. It feeds on various trees and [shrubs](/source/Shrub) including [apple](/source/Malus), [buckthorn](/source/Buckthorn), [elm](/source/Elm), [oak](/source/Oak), pear, [poplar](/source/Populus) and [willow](/source/Willow) as well as various *[Prunus](/source/Prunus)* species.[5] The species overwinters as a [pupa](/source/Pupa).

1. *The flight season refers to the [British Isles](/source/British_Isles). This may vary in other parts of the range.*

## References

1. ["Common Quaker | UKmoths"](https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/orthosia-cerasi/). *www.ukmoths.org.uk*. Retrieved 2026-03-24.

1. ["Common Quaker - Butterflies and Moths of Northern Ireland"](https://www.habitas.org.uk/moths/species.asp?item=6280). *www.habitas.org.uk*. Retrieved 2026-03-24.

1. Seitz, A. Ed., 1914 *Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde*, Verlag Alfred Kernen, Stuttgart Band 3: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen eulenartigen Nachtfalter, 1914

1. ["Common Quaker"](https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/common-quaker). *butterfly-conservation.org*. Retrieved 2026-03-24.

1. Robinson, Gaden S.; Ackery, Phillip R.; Kitching, Ian J.; Beccaloni, George W.; Hernández, Luis M. (2010). ["Search the database - introduction and help"](https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/data/hostplants). *HOSTS - A Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants*. [Natural History Museum, London](/source/Natural_History_Museum,_London)

- [Chinery, Michael](/source/Michael_Chinery) (1986, reprinted 1991). *Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe*.
- [Skinner, Bernard](/source/Bernard_Skinner_(entomologist)) (1984). *[The Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles](/source/The_Colour_Identification_Guide_to_Moths_of_the_British_Isles)*.

## External links

- Kimber, Ian. ["73.244 BF2187 Common Quaker *Orthosia cerasi* (Fabricius, 1775)"](https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/orthosia-cerasi/). *UKMoths*. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- Savela, Markku. ["*Orthosia cerasi* (Fabricius, 1775)"](https://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/noctuoidea/noctuidae/hadeninae/orthosia/#cerasi). *Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms*. Retrieved 29 June 2019. Taxonomy
- [*Lepiforum e.V.*](http://www.lepiforum.de/cgi-bin/lepiwiki.pl?Orthosia_Cerasi)
- [*De Vlinderstichting*](http://www.vlindernet.nl/vlindersoort.php?vlinderid=619&vq=Orthosia) (in Dutch)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Common Quaker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Quaker) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Quaker?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.