73.042 BF2286

Light Knot Grass Acronicta menyanthidis

(Esper, 1798)

Wingspan 33-41 mm.

Distributed over northern England, Wales, Scotland and parts of Ireland, this is a species of acid moorland and damp heathland. The Scottish race is paler with more contrasting markings.

The moths are on the wing between May and July when they can be found resting exposed on fenceposts and rocks. At night they will come to light.

The caterpillar is blackish-brown with a red spiracular line dotted with white. It feeds on a number of moorland plants including bog myrtle (Myrica gale) and bilberry (Vaccinium).