B&F: 2088

ABH: 73.320

Status: Resident.

Distribution and Abundance: Common.

Primary Habitat: Waste Ground.

Flight Period: Single brooded in June and July.

Localities: Daventry, Boughton Park, Priors Hall Quarry and Old Sulehay Forest.

Observations: Several moths came to m.v. light traps in 2001 in Boughton Park indicating the presence of a colony in the park. Although none were seen there in 2002 moths were taken again in 2003. As a consequence of the greater recording effort in 2004 the moth was found to be currently present in a further five grid squares, indicating that although still local it is rather more widespread in the county than previously thought. In 2005 a strong colony was found to be present at Twywell Hills and Dales. The moths were well marked with some showing considerable melonism. In subsequent years the species has continued to expand its range within the county.

Confusion Species: Turnip

L.O.N.: 1906. Kettering, near Faxton, endorsed in manuscript by
F. Adams, “Old Poor’s Gorse,” Weedon. Not common. There is an additional note from 1911 as follows: “I previously noticed Agrotis costicea as not common, but in 1911, Mr Brocklehurst and myself found it most abundant at treacle in Farming Woods. The same year it was quite common at Geddington Chase.”

First Record: 1885, Wallis