Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis) | Species | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Taken at Aston, Oxon., on October 2nd 2022. (© David Hastings) (1/250th sec at f11) DescriptionFamily: Noctuidae (ABH : 73.186) Wing span: 30 - 36mm The fore-wing of this species is somewhat pointed, and the kidney mark is narrow. The oval is generally dark, small and often elongated. The ground colour is most frequently chestnut-brown or reddish-brown, but can vary from brownish-white to blackish. There is usually a dark-coloured diagonal dash on the leading edge near the tip. It is well distributed in England north to Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is local in Wales and Ireland, and rare in Scotland. Habitats include broad-leaved woodland, scrub, hedgerows, grassland, heathland and gardens. There is one generation from September to early November. It over-winters as an egg. Larvae feed on various herbaceous plants, including buttercups, clovers and chickweeds. When larger they also feed on Hawthorn and other broad-leaved trees and shrubs. It comes to light and sugar, and feeds on Ivy flowers and blackberries. Earliest UK sighting: 20th September ; Latest UK sighting: 11th November Sightings
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