Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae) | Species | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Taken at Aston, Oxon., on May 18th 2024. (© David Hastings) (1/200th sec at f11) DescriptionFamily: Noctuidae (ABH : 73.274) Wing span: 28 - 44mm The most noticeable characters on this moth's forewing are the chalky-white outline of the kidney mark, and the white inner edge of the dark outer band, which forms a W mark in the middle. The ground colour is usually dark brownish-grey. It is found throughout the British Isles, but is local in western Scotland and most of Ireland. This is a lowland species, most frequent in cultivated areas. There are usually two or three generations between May and October as far north as Yorkshire, and probably only two further north. It over-winters mainly as a pupa, but sometimes as a larva. This moth is best known as a pest of cultivated brassicas. However, the larvae also feed on the leaves of many wild or cultivated herbaceous plants, and are also recorded on sallows and oaks. It comes to light in small numbers. Earliest UK sighting: 18th May ; Latest UK sighting: 3rd September Sightings
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