Mottled Rustic - Caradrina morpheus

Description

Wingspan 32-38 mm. Although superficially similar to several related species, this moth always shows a distinctly large and dark reniform stigma and is fairly broad-winged.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

It occupies a range of habitats including suburban areas

When to see it

It flies from June to August, sometimes with a small second brood in October in the south and is frequent at light.

Life History

The larvae feed on a number of herbaceous plants, especially Nettle and Dandelion.

UK Status

Common to abundant in much of England and Wales, scarcer in Scotland and Ireland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.

VC55 Status

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = A (common and resident)

Reference
73.092 BF2387

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
Mottled Rustic
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Noctuidae
Records on NatureSpot:
436
First record:
01/01/1992 (LLRS)
Last record:
18/07/2023 (Pugh, Dylan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records