Noctuidae

73.127 Large Ear Amphipoea lucens (Freyer, 1845)

Local

Similar species: All of the other three British ear moths Amphipoea spp. are very similar with an overlapping variation of markings. Check genitalia.

Forewing: 14 to 17mm

Habitats: Marshes, acid moorland and rough grassland.

Habits: The moth nectars at Heather and rush flowers. It comes to light.

Foodplant: The larva feeds internally in the lower stem and later on the roots of Purple Moor-grass and cotton-grasses. In captivity it will accept Annual Meadow-grass and Cock's-foot.

On the European mainland it has been recorded feeding on Hare's-tail Cottongrass.