Common Rustic (Mesapamea secalis, (Linnaeus, 1758))

General Information
This is a very variable species. It is one of three very similar species and is not easily discernible from the Lesser Common Rustic and the Remm's Rustic.

Pupates in loose soil.
Overwinters as Overwinters as a larva.
Both sexes readily come to light, sometimes in numbers.

Forewing length: 12-16mm.
Foodplant(s): Cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata), Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea), Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa), Hairy Wood-rush (Luzula pilosa), grasses, cereal crops
Flying: One generation, July-August
UK Presence: Resident
National status: Common

Habitat

Fens, grassland, heathland, open woodland, scrub and gardens.

Regional Information

There are no records in the system yet in MyPlace.

Similar Species

Crescent Helotropha leucostigma (=Celaena)

Small Clouded Brindle Apamea unanimis

Lesser Common Rustic Mesapamea didyma

Suspected Parastichtis suspecta

73.169 (BF2343) Common Rustic Mesapamea secalis, (Linnaeus, 1758)

KR09789