Noctuidae

73.001 Spectacle Abrostola tripartita (Hufnagel 1766)

Common

Similar species: Dark Spectacle Abrostola triplasia has a more even grey-black ground colour and the markings at the base of the forewing and in the trailing corner are straw coloured rather than white. There is a warm dark grey (rather than grey-black) form of Spectacle that lacks the white markings.

Forewing: 15 to 17mm

Habitats: Woodland margins, hedgerows, marshes, fens, ditch margins, wasteground, sand-dunes and gardens.

Habits: The moth flies from dusk and comes to light. It nectars at Red Valerian and other flowers.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on Common Nettle. It pupates in the leaf litter.