Heart and Club
Common NameHeart and Club
Scientific NameAgrotis clavis
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)38
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, black
HabitatGardens, cultivated land, heathland, woodland edges
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, parts of Asia
Host Plantsdock, plantain, dandelion, knotgrass, various cultivated crops
Flight PeriodMay to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are polyphagous cutworms, feeding at night on the roots and lower stems of various herbaceous plants. They overwinter as larvae and pupate in the soil.
Identification TipsKey features include the mottled brown and grey forewings with distinct dark markings, particularly the 'heart' (orbicular) and 'club' (claviform) stigmata, which give the moth its common name.
Description
A medium-sized moth with cryptically patterned forewings, typically mottled brown and grey, featuring prominent dark stigmata including a distinctive club-shaped mark.
