Maps updated: April 2008

Amphipoea crinanensis (Burrows, 1908)

Description: Wingspan 29-35 mm. Forewings generally have a more mottled appearance. The colour ranges from burnt sienna through to reddish brown. Reniform stigma usually yellow or orange or occasionally white. The orbicular stigma is not clearly defined. The crosslines are generally darker than the base colour. Hind wings brownish ochreous with a small discal spot.

Similar Species: Large Ear A. lucens which has a discal spot on the hindwing. The three 'ears' Amphipoea are extremely variable in size and wing pattern and certain identification requires examination of the genitalia.

Key Identification Features:

• Mottled appearance to the forewings
• Orange or yellow-coloured reniform stigma
• Darker crosslines

Sets:

Flight Period: End of July to early September.

Status: Uncertain due to the difficulty in identification. The distribution map is not necessarily a true reflection of its distribution in N. Ireland. Since many of the records are not supported by voucher specimens their validity is doubtful. There have been confirmed records for Aughinlig and Loughgall, Armagh and from Ballykinler, Down.

Ecology: This species which is not necessarily restricted to coastal localities as some of the confirmed records indicate. Adults are attracted to light and flowers particularly those of Heather Calluna vulgaris and Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea. According to Skinner the larvae feed from May to July in the stems of Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus. It overwinters as an egg.

World Distribution: In western Europe it is less frequent than the other species in the genus. It is reported to be common and widespread on the Danish mainland, southern Sweden and parts of Norway and southern Finland.

Caterpillar: