73.158 Apamea sordens (Rustic Shoulder-knot)
fw: 16-19mm (Waring & Townsend), ws: 34-42mm (MBGBI10); May-Jul; grasses (Poaceae); common throughout GB
Synonym: Apamea basilinea (Pierce {males])
Synonym: Apamea basilinea (Pierce {males])
Apamea sordens (Rustic Shoulder-knot) §5
ID: Forewing ground colour sandy-brown to greyish-brown with a conspicuous black basal streak (described as 'undulating' in MBGBI10 and 'slightly branched' in Waring & Townsend - the former seems more accurate - and it isn't always conspicuous in dorsal view but is more so in lateral view of the moth in resting posture). Both references state that the kidney mark is slightly paler than the ground colour and narrowly outlined in white; neither mention the the dorsal third of the kidney mark is distinctively blackish. The oval is concolourous and inconscpicuous. Antenna: male - fasciculate, female - ciliate.
A.anceps (Large Nutmeg) can be very similar; it may have a basal streak but if so it is brown and indistinct.
A.anceps (Large Nutmeg) can be very similar; it may have a basal streak but if so it is brown and indistinct.
§1 Foulness, Essex; 12/05/2007
§2 Foulness, Essex; 31/05/2008
§3 Foulness, Essex; 16/05/2009; male
§4 Ham Fen, Kent; 20/05/2010; male
§5 Foulness, Essex; 07/05/2011; fw 17.9mm
§6 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 25/05/2011
§7 Foulness, Essex; 19/05/2012; male
§8 Foulness, Essex; 04/06/2016; female; fw 17.6mm
§9 Foulness, Essex; 04/06/2016; male; fw 17.9mm
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Foulness, Essex; 31/05/2008
§3 Foulness, Essex; 16/05/2009; male
§4 Ham Fen, Kent; 20/05/2010; male
§5 Foulness, Essex; 07/05/2011; fw 17.9mm
§6 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 25/05/2011
§7 Foulness, Essex; 19/05/2012; male
§8 Foulness, Essex; 04/06/2016; female; fw 17.6mm
§9 Foulness, Essex; 04/06/2016; male; fw 17.9mm
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 18/03/2016 (§1-7) | §8&9 added 08/05/2017
