Noctuidae

73.104 Porter's Rustic Athetis hospes (Freyer, [1831])

Immigrant

Similar species: Although plain this moth is unlikely to be mistaken for any other British or Irish species.

Forewing: 11 to 13mm

Habitats: In Europe it inhabits a variety of habitats from wet grassland to dry grassland with areas of bare ground. In Britain it has been recorded mainly from coastal grassland and vegetated shingle.

Habits: The moth comes to light. Breeding was suspected when 13 of the 53 recorded in 2008 were caught at Dungeness.

Foodplant: The early stages have not been recorded in Britain. On the European mainland it has been recorded feeding on Dandelion, docks, willowherbs, tobacco and other low growing plants. It overwinters as a fuul-fed larva and pupates in the spring.