Taken at Aston, Oxon., on October 11th 2023.
(1/250th sec at f11. © David Hastings)

Description

Family: Noctuidae

Wing span: 28 - 34mm

This moth has a short diagonal dash near the fore-wing tip, marks across the leading edge, and a partial cross-line near the wing base, all intensely black. The fore-wing is usually reddish-brown.

It is reasonably common in England (except the south-west), and the Scottish lowlands. It is local in Wales and very scarce in Ireland.

It is found in broad-leaved woodland, parkland, heathland, fens, scrub, hedgerows and gardens.

There is one generation per year, from late August to October. It over-winters as an egg, and pupates in an underground cocoon.

Larvae feed on herbaceous plants, including Meadowsweet, Common Sorrel and Bladder-campion. When larger they also feed on the leaves of broad-leaved trees like oaks, sallows and hawthorns.

It comes to light and sugar, and feeds on Ivy flowers and over-ripe blackberries.

Sightings

11-Oct-2023

:

Aston, Oxon

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