Species Details

ABH: 73.064

BF: 2299

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Amphipyrinae

Taxon: Amphipyra tragopoginis

Authority: (Clerck, 1759)

Vernacular: Mouse Moth

Account: Common in a wide range of habitats, including gardens, woodland, sand-dunes, moorland and fens throughout the British Isles, more commonly recorded at sugar than at light and recent apparent declines may reflect this, a species of conservation concern under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Widespread and still moderately common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 32-40 mm. There are usually three small dots on the forewing, and the moth is likened to a mouse in coloration and in the way it scampers into cover when exposed. Larva feeds on a wide range of herbaceous plants and shrubs, over-wintering as an egg.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 32 — 40 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 24 Jun (2009) — 15 Oct (1991)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Salix sp. (a sallow).

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Vulnerable (VU)

UK BAP: BAP(R)

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/amphipyra-tragopoginis/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 554

Individuals: 539

Earliest Year: 1904

Latest Year: 2024

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