Noctuidae : Acronictinae
Knot Grass
ACRONICTA (Viminia) rumicis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Knot Grass
ACRONICTA (Viminia) rumicis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Life Cycle Guide
Description
Wingspan: 30-35mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : North Africa : Asia-to Korea and Japan
UK Distribution: Resident : England,Ireland,Wales,Isle of Man and Channel Islands-Well distributed and frequent. Scotland-Mainly lowland
UK Conservation Status -
Habitat: Woodland : Gardens : Heathland : Downland
Similar Species -
Pupa: Pupates in a cocoon amongst leaf litter
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The Knot Grass A.rumicis is a common and widespread moth that has rapidly declined by 80% over the past 35 years and as such is identified in the UK BAP priority action plan and carries conservation priority in order to reverse the situation.
The moth has two chalky white spots located along the inner margin or trailing edge of the forewing, located approximately 2/3 distance from the base whereas the Scarce dagger A.auricoma has a white broken postmedial cross-line, being the diagnostic feature.
The Knot Grass has a pair of orbicular spots or rings in black with a black dot situated at the centre of this spot.
The larva of this moth is polyphagous feeding on a wide variety of plants covering many plant families.
The moth is attracted to light and in this case it was found on the house wall about four metres from the light trap.Thay are also attracted to sugar and are known to feed on flowers.
The moth has two generations in the south and a single generation in the north.
Worldwide Distribution: Europe : North Africa : Asia-to Korea and Japan
UK Distribution: Resident : England,Ireland,Wales,Isle of Man and Channel Islands-Well distributed and frequent. Scotland-Mainly lowland
UK Conservation Status -
- Common = >300 10Km Squares
- BAP : 2007 - Priority Species
- Vulnerable
- NERC S.41 : 2008 (England) & NERC S.42 : 2009 (Wales) - Species "of principle importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity"
- Northern Ireland : 2010 - Priority Species
- Least Concern
- Phalaena rumicis (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Phalaena leporina (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Not Specified
Habitat: Woodland : Gardens : Heathland : Downland
Similar Species -
- Scarce Dagger Acronicta auricoma ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Pupa: Pupates in a cocoon amongst leaf litter
Overwinters as: Pupa
Observations: The Knot Grass A.rumicis is a common and widespread moth that has rapidly declined by 80% over the past 35 years and as such is identified in the UK BAP priority action plan and carries conservation priority in order to reverse the situation.
The moth has two chalky white spots located along the inner margin or trailing edge of the forewing, located approximately 2/3 distance from the base whereas the Scarce dagger A.auricoma has a white broken postmedial cross-line, being the diagnostic feature.
The Knot Grass has a pair of orbicular spots or rings in black with a black dot situated at the centre of this spot.
The larva of this moth is polyphagous feeding on a wide variety of plants covering many plant families.
The moth is attracted to light and in this case it was found on the house wall about four metres from the light trap.Thay are also attracted to sugar and are known to feed on flowers.
The moth has two generations in the south and a single generation in the north.
Photo Gallery
Larva
Larval Food Plants Worldwide
Note - Plants hyperlinked in red below take the visitor to the relevant plant page on"Plants for a Future" website
where further information like photos,physical
characteristics,habitats,edible uses,medicinal
uses,cultivation,propagation,range,height etc. are clearly listed.
- Plant Families - in bold red below takes the visitor to the relevant "Lepi-plants" page where other butterflies & moths using the plants below are listed.
- Aceraceae - Maple Family
- Acer platanoides - Norway Maple
- Adoxaceae - Viburnum Family
- Viburnum opulus - Guelder Rose
- Asteraceae - Compositae - Aster-Daisy - Sunflower Family
- Cirsium arvense - Creeping Thistle - Canada Thistle
- Cirsium vulgare - Common Thistle - Spear Thistle
- Betulaceae - The Birch Family
- Alnus incana - Grey Alder
- Betula pendula - Silver Birch
- Corylus avellana - Hazel
- Cannabidaceae - Hemp/Hop Family
- Humulus lupulus - Hop
- Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle Family
- Lonicera caprifolium - Italian Honeysuckle
- Lonicera caprifolium - Italian Honeysuckle
- Cyperaceae - Sedge Family
- Eleocharis palustris - Common Spike-Rush
- Elaegnaceae - Oleaster Family
- Elaeagnus commutata - Silverberry
- Fabaceae - Leguminosea - The Pulse - Bean - Pea - Legume Family
- Caragana arborescens - Siberian Pea Tree
- Psium sativum - Garden Pea
- Trifolium repens - White Clover - Dutch Clover
- Iridaceae - Iris Family
- Iris germanica - Purple Flag
- Iris pseudacorus - Yellow Flag
- Iris sibirica - Siberian Iris
- Lamiaceae : Labiatae - The Mint Family
- Mentha aquatica - Water Mint
- Lythraceae - Loosestrife Family
- Lythrum salicaria - Purple Loosestrife
- Myricaceae - Wax-myrtle Family
- Myrica gale - Bog Myrtle
- Oleceae - Mesophytic Shrubs - Trees - Vines
- Syringa vulgaris - Lilac
- Pinaceae - Pine Family
- Larix sibirica - Siberian Larch
- Plantaginaceae - Plantain Family
- Plantago lanceolata - Ribwort Plantain
- Plantago major - Common Plantain
- Polygonaceae - Docks - Sorrels - Knotweeds - Smartweeds
- Fallopia japonica - Japanese Knotweed
- Persicaria lapathifolia - Pale Smartweed
- Rumex acetosa - Common Sorrel
- Rumex crispus - Curled Dock
- Rumex obtusifolius - Broad-leaved Dock
- Primulaceae - Primrose Family
- Lysimachia vulgaris - Yellow Loosestrife
- Rosaceae - The Rose Family
- Crataegus coccinea - Scarlet Hawthorn
- Filipendula ulmaria - Meadowsweet
- Fragaria x ananassa - Strawberry
- Fragaria vesca - Wild Strawberry
- Geum urbanum - Wood Avens
- Malus domestica - Apple
- Potentilla pulustris - Marsh Cinquefoil
- Prunus cerasus - Sour Cherry
- Prunus domestica - Bullace - Plum
- Prunus padus - Bird Cherry - Hackberry
- Rubus caesius - Dewberry
- Rubus fruticosus - Bramble - Blackberry
- Rubus idaeus - Raspberry - Framboise
- Sorbus aucuparia - Mountain Ash - Rowan
- Saxifragaceae - Saxifrage Family
- Bergenia crassifolia - Siberian Tea
- Salicaceae - Willow Family
- Populus balsamifera - Balsam Poplar
- Populus tremula - Aspen Poplar
- Salix aurita - Eared Sallow
- Salix caprea - Goat Willow
- Salix pentandra - Bay Willow
- Urticaeae - Nettle Family
- Urtica dioica - Stinging Nettle - Common Nettle
- Vitaceae - Grapevine Family
- Parthenocissus vitacea - False Virginia Creeper
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant familie
- Fabaceae - Leguminosea - Lupinus - Lupin
- Moraceae - Morus - Mulberry
- Oleceae - Fraxinus - Ash
- Rosaceae - Rosa - Rose
- Note - Larvae also feed on the following plant familie
- Parthenocissus vitacea - False Virginia Creeper
Larval Food Plants
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Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Subkingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Order: Superfamily: Family: Subfamily: Genus: Subgenus: Accepted Species Name: Type Species - ACRONICTA: Original Species Name: Species Names: Nominotypical Subspecies: Literary Ref: Type Locality: |
Animalia
Eumetozoa Arthropoda Hexapoda Insecta Lepidoptera Noctuoidea Noctuidae Acronictinae ACRONICTA Ochsenheimer, 1816 Viminia Chapman,1890 Acronicta (Viminia) rumicis (Linnaeus, 1758) - Phalaena leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) - PHALAENA Noctua Rumicis (Linnaeus, 1758) = Acronycta salicis Curtis, 1826 = Acronycta diffusa Walker, 1857 = Acronycta rumicis pallida Rothschild, 1920 = Acronycta rumicis rumicina Bryk, 1949 = Apatele rumicis oriens Inoue & Sugi, 1958. - Phalaena rumicis rumicis (Linnaeus, 1758) - Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1 : Title Page : p.516 - n.112 - Not Specified |