Apamea scolopacina (Esper, 1788)

Description: Wingspan 32-36 mm. Forewings light ochreous brown with darker patches on the costal edge, dorsal surface and the termen area. Reniform stigma is white but the claviform stigma is not clearly defined. Antemedian and post median lines quite fine, composed mainly of black-coloured scales. The subterminal line is clearly defined and irregular in shape. The termen has a series of small black dots. Hindwings pale brown with darker veining.

Key Identification Features:

• Habitat and flight period
• Dark patches on the dorsal surface of forewings
• Small white mark on forewings

Sets:

Flight Period: The only N. Ireland record was on 25 August. Skinner gives late June until mid-August as the normal flight period.

Status: Rare; confined to Rostrevor Oakwood where it was discovered during a residential moth workshop in August 2000. This was the first Irish record. In Britain it is widespread over much of England and Wales as far north as Cumbria.

Ecology: An extremely rare species characteristic of old mature woodland with open grassy rides and clearings. Adults come to light and are also attracted to the flowers of Rosebay Willowherb Chamerion angustifolium, Bramble Rubus fruticosus, Angelica Angelica sylvestris and Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea . The adults rest by day concealed among oak leaves on the woodland floor and become active after dusk. The larvae feed from September to May on the stems and leaves of woodland grasses. It overwinters as a larva.

World Distribution: Eurasiatic: widespread in western Europe from Portugal through northern France as far north as the Sweden.

Bradley & Fletcher number: 2335 Agassiz number: 73.160

Additional information:

UK Moths account

Caterpillar: