DARK ARCHES

ADULT: Wingspan up to 55mm.  A commonly caught moth that is best identified by the black edged large and conspicuous oval and kidney marks and the W-shaped mark near the outer edge of the buff-to brown forewings. Melanic forms do occur especially in the north of the country. LARVAE: The grub-like larvae can be pale to dark in general colour, have a glossy sheen and are covered with scattered black spots.  They feed on various grasses such as Cock's-Foot and overwinter in this stage. BEHAVIOUR: Attracted to light, sometime in high numbers. HABITAT: Woodland, parks, gardens, moorland, waste ground and other grassy areas.  FLIGHT PERIOD: Double brooded. June to September. STATUS: A widely distributed and quite common moth found throughout the UK.