73.096 BF2381  -  Noctuidae -  Xyleninae - Hoplodrina octogenaria - Uncertain Adult Macro:  CAT 2 - Can be confused with other species - Can be confused with other species       PDF Icon - click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines

Blue -  Generally Common / Widespread   
Taxonomy:   Macro  >>  Noctuidae ID Difficulty:  amber  - care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely - quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  The Rustic
ID pointers: The name Uncertain reflects how difficult it is to separate from Rustic. However, it is possible to differentiate between the two. The Uncertain is a small moth with a rather blunt wing tip. Ground colour rich brown or tawny brown, sometimes dusted with grey especially along the cross-lines. Obvious oval and kidney marks. There is an obvious and jagged dark cross-band above the oval and a bolder, slightly diffuse cross-band that joins the kidney marks, plus a darker sub-terminal cross-band. The oval & kidney marks show a greater contrast against the overall tone of the forewing. If wings can be carefully separated, then the hind-wing od Uncertain is brown, whereas in Rustic it is grey. (see annotated photograph below).
Distribution:  A resident that is common and widely distributed in Derbyshire. Common throughout the lowland areas of the county. Becomes less common with rising altitudes and generally uncommon in the north.
Flight Period: June /  July /  August /  -  On the wing June – August. Moth Activity: Nocturnal  Photographed: Yes -  Photographed By: Tony Davison  © All Rights Reserved
Wingspan: 28-34mm
Forewing: 14-16mm
Food Plant: Dock (Rumex), Plantain (Plantago)
Recorded dates for Common [Blue codeBlue-coded ] moths are not stored on the website at this current time.

IMAGES BELOW:  Melbourne, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

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