Species Details

ABH: 73.157

BF: 2333

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Xyleninae

Taxon: Apamea anceps

Authority: ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

Vernacular: Large Nutmeg

Account: Local in calcareous grassland, farmland, gardens and woodland edges throughout England, mainly in the south-east, a species of conservation concern under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan Fairly distinctive, with light ochreous forewing often longer and narrower than in other Apamea species; reniform and orbicular stigmata rounded, slightly paler than ground colour; pale cross-lines extremely weak; and a row of narrow blackish crescent marks along termen (MBGBI Vol 10). Larva feeds on the flowers and seeds of various grasses, including Cock's-foot and Common Couch, and of cereal crops.

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: 38 — 44 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 8 May (2011) — 23 Aug (1983)

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

Foodplant: Dactylis glomerata (Cock's-foot), Gramineae., Poa annua (Annual Meadow-grass).

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

Status: Near Threatened (NT)

UK BAP: BAP(R)

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 2 — Care needed to identify 🤔
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/apamea-anceps/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 189

Individuals: 54

Earliest Year: 1912

Latest Year: 2024

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