Taken at Abingdon, Oxon., on June 14th 2020. (© David Hastings)
(1/250th sec at f7.1)

Description

Family: Noctuidae (ABH : 73.096)

Wing span: 28 - 32mm

This moth is very similar to the Rustic. It generally has rich brown or tawny brown forewings, sometimes dusted with grey, but is variable. The oval and kidney marks are darker than the ground colour, with pale outlines. A dark, diffuse, narrow cross-band runs through the kidney marks.

It is found in most of the British Isles, but not the northern part of Scotland.

It occupies most lowland habitats, including urban areas.

There is usually one generation, from mid-June to mid-August (this is 2 weeks earlier than the Rustic). There can be a small second generation in southern England from September to early November. It over-winters as a larva.

Larvae feed on a range of herbaceous plants, including chickweeds, docks, dead-nettles and Primrose.

It comes to light, often in numbers.

Earliest UK sighting: 31st May ; Latest UK sighting: 22nd August

Sightings