Noctuidae

73.092 Mottled Rustic Caradrina morpheus (Hufnagel, 1766)

Common

Similar species: The dark and blurred oval and kidney mark should be enough to separate it from similar moths.

Forewing: 13 to 16mm

Habitats: Woodland, scrub, hedgerows, grasslands, heathland, dune-slacks, sand-dunes and gardens.

Habits: The moth occasionally nectars at flowers and visits sugar. It comes to light.

Foodplant: The polyphagous larva feeds nocturnally on Dandelion, docks, goosefoots, teasels, Hedge Bedstraw, Knotgrass, chickweeds, plantains, Common Nettle, Hop, Goat Willow and other low growing plants. It hides near the ground during the day. The full-fed larva overwinters in a cocoon under the soil in which it pupates in the spring.

On the European mainland it has also been recorded feeding on wormwoods, Hedge Bindweed and Common Sorrel.