Rustic Shoulder-knot

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Rustic Shoulder-knot
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Noctuidae Genus: Apamea Species: A. sordens
Binomial name
Apamea sordens Hufnagel, 1766

The Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is distributed throughout Europe and is also found in North America.

This species has a wingspan of 36-42 mm. The forewings are brown with mostly indistinct markings expect for a narrow but distinctive black mark at the very base of the wing which gives the species its common name. The hindwings are greyish brown, darker towards the margin, with prominently dark venation. This moth flies at night in May and June ^[1] and is attracted to light and sugar.

The larva feeds on various grasses, including cereals (see list below). This species overwinters as a larva, feeding in mild weather throughout the season.

1. ^  The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

[edit] Recorded food plants

• Avena - Oat
• Dactylis
• Festuca
• Hordeum - Barley
• Leymus
• Phalaris
• Phleum
• Secale - Rye
• Triticum - Wheat
• Zea - Maize
• Zizania

[edit] References

• Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
• Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984