Four-lined Arches
Common NameFour-lined Arches
Scientific NameApamea scolopacina
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)36
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, cream, black
HabitatWoodlands, hedgerows, gardens, damp grasslands
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia
Host Plantscocksfoot grass (Dactylis glomerata), annual meadow-grass (Poa annua)
Flight PeriodJuly to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on the stems and roots of various grasses, pupating in the soil. It is univoltine, producing one generation per year.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its cryptic, mottled forewings with prominent, often pale-ringed, kidney-shaped and orbicular stigmata. The overall coloration provides excellent camouflage against tree bark or dry vegetation.
Description
A medium-sized moth with mottled brown, grey, and cream forewings, featuring distinct kidney-shaped and orbicular stigmata, and often a pale subterminal line.
