Light Knot Grass - Acronicta menyanthidis

Description

Wingspan 33 to 41 mm. 

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required. If the photo doesn't show the key ID features then in the comments box describe the size and identifying characters you have observed.

Habitat

A species of acid moorland and damp heathland.

When to see it

The moths are on the wing between May and July when they can be found resting exposed on fenceposts and rocks. At night they will come to light.

Life History

The caterpillar is blackish-brown with a red spiracular line dotted with white. It feeds on a number of moorland plants including Bog Myrtle and Bilberry.

UK Status

Distributed over northern England, Wales, Scotland and parts of Ireland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.

VC55 Status

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Reference
73.042 BF2286

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Light Knot Grass, Light Knotgrass
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Noctuidae
Records on NatureSpot:
2
First record:
24/05/2019 (Pearce, Dave)
Last record:
25/05/2019 (Leonard, Pete)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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