Agrochola lota (Clerck, 1759)

Description: Wingspan 33-40 mm. Forewings pale to dark lead grey. The antemedian and post median lines are reduced to small dark dots. The stigmata are indistinct, but a small dark spot is clearly visible in the median area of the forewing. The subterminal line is pale and bordered with a fine red line. Hindwings dark fuscous with a small discal spot which is not always present and pale buff fringe.

Key Identification Features:

• Colour of forewings
• Red subterminal line
• Dark hindwings with paler fringe

Sets:

Flight Period: Late September to early November.

Status: Widely distributed in southern and eastern counties, especially in the bogs and fens around north Armagh and Down. Sporadic elsewhere, with few recent records from Fermanagh, Londonderry and Antrim.

Ecology: A species found commonly in open woodland, heaths and fens. Adults come to light in small numbers. Like many other autumnal species it feeds at Ivy Hedera helix blossom and overripe berries. The larvae feed on willows Salix spp. from April until June. It overwinters as an egg.

World Distribution: Throughout western Europe from Spain to Denmark.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 2263 Agassiz number: 73.189

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: