73.338 : 2118 : 10,113
Noctuidae : Noctuinae

True Lover's Knot

LYCOPHOTIA porphyrea ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Picture
Life Cycle Guide
Picture
Description
Wingspan: 26-34mm
Worldwide Distribution: Europe
UK Distribution: Resident : Common and widespread throughout Britain,Isle of Man,Channel Islands and Ireland
UK Conservation Status -
  • Common = >300 10Km Squares
European Conservation Status - 
  • Least Concern
Original Species Name -
  • Phalaena (Noctua )porphyrea ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Type Species - Lycophotia
  • Noctua porphyrea ([Denis & Schiffrermüller],1775)
Type Locality -
  • Austria-near Vienna
Flight Period: South : Mid May-Mid September : Elsewhere-June-August
Habitat: The moth is found on heathland and moorland : Found in gardens-possibly breeding on cultivated heathers
Similar Species:-
  • Heath Rustic Xestia agathina (Duponchel, 1827)
Larva: The 30mm long final instar larva is resplendent with its ruddy brown background and lower buff/yellowish lateral line followed by a series of lateral lines made out of abdominal segment dashes alternately in buff and then black across the entire body creating 6/7 lateral lines.
Larval stage-July-May the folllowing year
Pupa: Pupates in a cocoon or just below ground level
Overwinters as: Nearly fully grown larva amongst plant debris
Observations: The True Lover's Knot L. porphyrea is an easily reconisable moth with a ruddy brown background colour highlighted in markings of white and black.
The white markings tend to be prominent at the costa and often penetrate the reniform stigmata,forming other dash markings along the  subterminal line.
The white orbicular spot is ringed with black.

The Heath Rustic X. agathina another heathland species is similar but occurs later in the season and is not so strikingly marked.
The Beautiful Yellow Underwing A. myrtilli has a similarly coloured ruddy brown forewing.

Although the moth belongs to the heathland habitat areas it is also a regular to the light trap and to the garden where they will feed on heather cultivars and also be attracted to sugar.

Here in North-east Hampshire where heathland has a stronghold it is a regular visitor to the garden as is the Beautiful Yellow Underwing found feeding on Buddleja late in the season.
Photo Gallery
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.
Larval Food Plants
Taxonomy
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Type Species - LYCOPHOTIA:

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Literary Ref:


Type Locality:
Animalia
Eumetozoa
Arthropoda
Hexapoda
Insecta
Lepidoptera
Noctuoidea
Noctuidae
Noctuinae
Noctuini
LYCOPHOTIA Hübner [1820]
Lycophotia porphyrea ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
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Noctua porphyrea ([Denis & Schiffrermüller],1775)
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PHALAENA (Noctua) porphyrea ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
= Noctua porphyrea Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775
= Noctua strigula Thunberg, 1792
= Phalaena (Noctua) varia Villers, 1789
= Phalaena (Noctua) concinna Esper, 1790
= birivia Borkhausen, 1792
= Noctua picta Fabricius, 1794
= arnicae Fabricius, 1794
= Phalaena ericae Donovan, 1801
= Noctua ericae Haworth, 1809
= Chersotis marmorea Graslin, 1863.
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Ankündung eines systematischen Werkes von den Schmetterlingen der Wienergegend  : Title Page :  p.83 - n.17
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Austria-near Vienna