Rustic Shoulder-knot
Apamea sordens
This record describes Apamea sordens (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 34-42 mm. A variable moth but often a relatively dull brownish colour, sometimes pinker. It it can usually be recognised by the black 'shoulder-knot', a streak at the base of the forewing. Frequenting meadows, fields and other grassy places. The caterpillars feed through the winter on various grasses such as Cock's-foot. Common throughout most of Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Apameini
- Genus
- Apamea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Frequenting meadows, fields and other grassy places.
Seasonal Activity
Flies in May and June.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The caterpillars feed through the winter on various grasses such as Cock's-foot.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Common throughout most of Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Apamea sordens. 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 Rustic Shoulder-knot (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Rustic Shoulder-knot
What is Rustic Shoulder-knot?
Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Rustic Shoulder-knot found?
Habitat: Frequenting meadows, fields and other grassy places.
When is Rustic Shoulder-knot active?
Rustic Shoulder-knot: seasonal activity - Flies in May and June..
What is the life cycle of a Rustic Shoulder-knot?
The caterpillars feed through the winter on various grasses such as Cock's-foot.