73.255 Anarta (Calocestra) trifolii (Nutmeg)
fw: 14-18mm (Waring & Townsend), ws: 23-39mm (MBGBI9); bivoltine in south Apr-Jun, Aug-Sep, univoltine north from Midlands Jun-Jul; mainly goosefoot (Chenopodium spp), common orache (Atriplex patula); common in S&SE.England, more local elsewhere in GB.
Synonym: Discestra trifolii (MBGBI9, Waring & Townsend)
Synonym: Discestra trifolii (MBGBI9, Waring & Townsend)
Anarta trifolii (Nutmeg) §2
ID: Forewing ground colour pale to dark brownish-grey; subbasal, antemedian and postmedian lines slightly paler than ground colour and with some fine black edging; pale subterminal line with a prominent 'W' in dorsal half; stigmata variable but usually distinct and finely dark-edged; oval round with a pale outline inside the dark edge; kidney mark bilobed with the dorsal lobe darker than ground colour and a partial pale outline inside the dark edge; dart mark variable; hindwing pale fuscous with a broad darker fuscous margin. Mamestra brassicae (Cabbage Moth) averages larger (fw 14-22mm), has a curved spine on the foretibia, has the kindney mark more obviously white-outlined than the oval, and a less dentate subterminal line (the points of the 'W' do not reach the termen). Forms of Apamea remissa (Dusky Brocade) lacking a median paradorsal black bar may also be similar, it has the subterminal 'W'' and may show a darker dorsal portion to the kidney mark; it averages larger (fw 17-19mm), a short indistinct dart mark and has a more uniformly fuscous hindwing.
§1 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 17/08/2010; female; fw 16.0mm
§2 Foulness, Essex; 07/05/2011; fw 17.3mm
§3 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 27/07/2012; male
§4 Foulness. Essex; 19/07/2014; female; fw 17.1mm
§5 Winterton, Norfolk; 15/05/2015; female; fw 16.6mm
§6 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 07/08/2015
§7 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 16/07/2018; male; fw 15.5mm
§8 Foulness, Essex; 18/05/2019; male
§9 Foulness, Essex; 14/08/2021; female; fw 16.0mm
§10 St Mary's, Isles of Scilly; 29/09/2023; male
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Foulness, Essex; 07/05/2011; fw 17.3mm
§3 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 27/07/2012; male
§4 Foulness. Essex; 19/07/2014; female; fw 17.1mm
§5 Winterton, Norfolk; 15/05/2015; female; fw 16.6mm
§6 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 07/08/2015
§7 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 16/07/2018; male; fw 15.5mm
§8 Foulness, Essex; 18/05/2019; male
§9 Foulness, Essex; 14/08/2021; female; fw 16.0mm
§10 St Mary's, Isles of Scilly; 29/09/2023; male
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 23/10/2016 (§1-6) | §7 added 28/04/2019 | §8 added 07/01/2020 | §9 added 13/12/2021 | §10 added 01/01/2024
