Lacanobia suasa (Denis & Schiff., 1775)

Description: Wingspan 32-42 mm. Forewings normally greyish brown, but individuals can vary in colour. Stigmata are lighter with a fine pale line. The antemedian and postmedian lines are darker and the subterminal line is white with two small tooth-shaped projections extending to the terminal border of the wings. Basal streaks are darker in colour and wider towards the orbicular stigmata. Hindwings are light fuscous with darker veining and a small discal lunule.

Key Identification Features:

• Greyish brown forewings
• Small tooth-shaped projections extending to the terminal border of the forewings.
• Paler hindwings with small discal spot

Sets:

Flight Period: There is insufficient information to state the flight period in N. Ireland. Skinner gives June and July as the main flight period in Britain.

Status: A scarce species only recorded recently on a few occasions from Oxford Island National Nature Reserve, Armagh, Portmore Lough, Antrim and Castle Espie, Down. There are old records from the Aghalee area, Antrim in the early 1950's and Newcastle in south Down.

Ecology: An extremely local species. It is associated with salt marshes and waste ground. Adults are attracted to light, but are seldom encountered, or perhaps overlooked in a few cases. Little is known about the moth's habits and preferences in N. Ireland. The larvae are reported to feed throughout the summer to early autumn on various herbaceous plants including plantain Plantago spp. and Knotgrass Polygonum aviculare. It overwinters as a pupa.

World Distribution: Throughout western Europe north to the Arctic.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 2159 Agassiz number: 73.266

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: