Large Nutmeg
Apamea anceps
This record describes Apamea anceps (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 35-40 mm. Fairly distinctive, with light ochreous forewing often longer and narrower than in other Apamea species. Inhabiting dry pasture and woodland fringes. Adults fly in June and July and are attracted to light and sugar. The larvae feed on grasses, including Annual Meadow-grass and Cock's-foot eating the flowers and leaves. Distributed throughout much of England, though most common in the south-east. It is local or rare towards northern England and Wales. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Apamea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Inhabiting dry pasture and woodland fringes.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly in June and July and are attracted to light and sugar.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on grasses, including Annual Meadow-grass and Cock's-foot eating the flowers and leaves.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Distributed throughout much of England, though most common in the south-east. It is local or rare towards northern England and Wales. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Apamea anceps. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Large Nutmeg (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Large Nutmeg
What is Large Nutmeg?
Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Large Nutmeg found?
Habitat: Inhabiting dry pasture and woodland fringes.
When is Large Nutmeg active?
Large Nutmeg: seasonal activity - Adults fly in June and July and are attracted to light and sugar..
What is the life cycle of a Large Nutmeg?
The larvae feed on grasses, including Annual Meadow-grass and Cock's-foot eating the flowers and leaves.