Species Details

ABH: 73.274

BF: 2154

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Hadeninae

Taxon: Mamestra brassicae

Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular: Cabbage Moth

Account: Common in gardens, allotments, open woodland and a wide range of other habitats throughout the British Isles Distinctive white edge to reniform stigma; has been confused with Dot Moth Melanchra persicariae, but much less obviously black and white then this species. Larva polyphagous, but with a preference for Brassica, causing sufficient damage to be a serious pest in some areas, and over-wintering as a pupa or larva.

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: 34 — 50 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 19 Apr (2007) — 10 Oct (1970)

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

Foodplant: Brassica sp., Polyphagous.

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

Status: Least Concern (LC)

UK BAP:

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/mamestra-brassicae/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 668

Individuals: 314

Earliest Year: 1903

Latest Year: 2025

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