Dark Arches

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Dark Arches
Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypgha)
Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypgha)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Apamea
Species: A. monoglypha
Binomial name
Apamea monoglypha
Hufnagel, 1766

The Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is a common, sometimes abundant, European species.

This is a fairly large species (wingspan 46-54 mm), the forewings varying from pale greyish brown to almost black and cryptically patterned. All but the darkest individuals usually have an obvious black mark close to the dorsum and a pale "zig-zag" subterminal line. The hindwings are whitish with darker venation and a dark shaded band at the margin. This moth flies at night from June to August with a second brood sometimes emerging in September and October [1]. It is attracted to light, sugar and many nectar-rich flowers.

The larva is pale with a black head and black spots. It feeds on various grasses including Deschampsia and Festuca. This species overwinters as a larva.

  1. ^  The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

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