Noctuidae : Xyleninae
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Photo © Neil Sherman,  Male, gen.det. Purdis Farm, Ipswich. July 2016

Similar Suffolk Species
Common Rustic
Mesapamea secalis
Small Clouded Brindle
Apamea unanimis

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Lesser Common Rustic
Mesapamea didyma

(Esper, 1788) 2343a / 73.170

Morley's Final Catalogue: Common rustic was just a single species in Morley's time.
A pest at light in July everywhere, especially noted at Ipswich, Needham, Monks Soham, Gorleston.

Recent Suffolk Status: There are very few confirmed Lesser common rustic records in the county and they are widely scattered.

Life history: Single-brooded.

Identification: This species and Common rustic can only be separated by dissection as they are both very similar and equally variable. Any undissected moths need to be recorded as aggregate.
Forms of Common rustic agg. that are very dark, almost blackish in colour with a clear white kidney mark quite often turn out to be Lesser common rustic on dissection and most of the confirmed Suffolk records are of this form.
Small clouded brindle flies earlier in the season so any moths still around when Common rustic agg. appears on the wing are usually very worn.

Habitat: A wide variety of grassy habitats including gardens.

Determination by Genitalia Examination (gen. det.) Required

Recorded in 15 (26%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1994.
Last Recorded in 2024.
Additional Stats

< Common Rustic agg. | Rosy Minor >

Determination
Snape 25-7-2019 - Raymond A Watson
List Species Records   [Show All Latest]
Latest 5 Records
Date#VC10k Area
28/08/2024125TM24 - Woodbridge/Martlesham
09/08/2024126TL78 - Brandon/Lakenheath
18/07/2024125TM24 - Woodbridge/Martlesham
24/07/2021126TL78 - Brandon/Lakenheath
16/07/2021126TL78 - Brandon/Lakenheath
Show Details | 1990 to 2023 | 2000 to 2023 | Graph Key
Express Record Lesser Common Rustic
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Click Map for Details

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Forewing: 11-16mm.
Flight: One generation July-Aug.
Foodplant:   Grasses
Red List: Least Concern (LC)
GB Status: Common
Verification Grade:  Adult: 4
 Immature Adult   [Show Flight Times]
     
Underlying maps using Digital Map Data © Norfolk Online Lepidoptera Archive - NOLA™ - Suffolk 2024. © James Wheeler - Norfolk Moths 2007 - 2024. Data © NOLA™ - Suffolk 2024
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