Shuttle Shaped Dart

ADULT: Wingspan 30-32mm. The pale oval mark on the forewings of this sexually dimorphic species is pointed at both ends and distinctive. This mark is more obvious on the forewings of the female where the ground colour is more a less uniformed dark brown whereas the male has straw coloured forewings with a dark brown kidney mark and a less obvious 'shuttle'. The thorax is greyish. CHRYSALIS: Pupates in cocoon below ground. LARVA: Feeds on Docks, Dandelion other Herbaceous plants. BEHAVIOUR: Attracted to light. HABITAT: Hedgerows, gardens, woodlands, marshes, parks, farmland and coastal. FLIGHT PERIOD: Resident. Double brooded - April to October. STATUS: Resident. Common throughout up to North Lancashire/Yorkshire.