73.017 BF2443

Plain Golden Y Autographa jota

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Wingspan 38-46 mm.

Similar in appearance to the Beautiful Golden Y (Autographa pulchrina), this moth has a plainer, more brick-red appearance, with fewer less-distinct metallic markings.

It flies at night from June to August, and is regularly attracted to light. The lustrous "Golden Y" marking on the forewing is normally broken in the centre, but there is a form (f. percontationis) with a complete marking, similar to that on the Silver Y (A. gamma).

It is a fairly common species over most of Britain, though scarcer in Scotland.

The larvae feed on a range of plants including nettle (Urtica dioica).