Taken at Aston, Oxon., on July 8th 2023. (© David Hastings)
(1/250th sec at f11)

Description

Family: Noctuidae (ABH : 73.172)

Wing span: 20 - 24mm

More slender than other minors, with a narrower fore-wing. It is extremely variable. In the distinctive form bicoloria the basal half of the fore-wing is brown, contrasting sharply with the broad white trailing half, and thereby forming a cloak when the moth is at rest.

It is well-distributed in England and Wales. It is widespread but mainly coastal in southern Scotland, probably a vagrant further north. It is coastal in Ireland.

Typical habitat is open, well-drained grassland on light soils.

There is one generation from July to early September. It over-winters as a larva.

Larvae feed on grasses.

It comes to light, sugar and flowers.

Earliest UK sighting: 28th June ; Latest UK sighting: 20th August

Sightings