Noctuidae

73.167 Northern Arches or Exile Apamea exulis (Lefebvre, 1836)

Notable A

Similar species: The Shetland form of this moth and some other local populations are less red than the form in the pictures, but otherwise the thick cross-lines and lack of an obvious "W" in the outer-cross-line should separate this moth from other British or Irish species.

Forewing: 17 to 19mm

Habitats: Mountain moorland and upland grassland. Lowland grassland on Shetland.

Habits: The moth comes to light and sugar. Exile is the name that was given to the Shetland form.

Foodplant: The early stages have not been recorded in the wild. It probably feeds at first on the seeds and flowers of grasses and when larger on the lower stem and roots after which it pupates under the soil. In captivity it accepts Purple Moor-grass and Annual Meadow-grass.