Page 603 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Noctuidae
DISTRIBUTION Europe, excluding northernmost Scandinavia; Asia Minor,
the Middle East, western central Asia east to China (Xinjiang),
and southern Siberia to Lake Baikal; Sakhalin Island (Russian
Far East)

HABITAT Grasslands, from gardens to arable elds, wastelands, woodland
rides, coastal dunes, and high moorlands; mainly at higher
altitudes in warmer climates
HOST PLANTS Grasses, including Cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata), fescue
(Festuca spp.), reed-grass (Calamagrostis spp.), and hair-grass
(Deschampsia spp.)
NOTE Caterpillar that lives in a chamber in grass tussocks
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but widespread and common

ADULT WINGSPAN
1¾–2⅛ in (45–55 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 ⁄ –2⅛ in (40–45 mm)
APAMEA MONOGLYPHA
DARK ARCHES 601

(HUFNAGEL, 1766)

The Dark Arches caterpillar hatches from an oval, whitish egg
laid in small groups on a grass leaf sheath or seed head that

provides its rst meal. The larva soon descends the plant to live
in a silken chamber among the roots and lower stems, which it
feeds on until it is full grown. There is one main generation;
the caterpillars overwinter, feeding in mild weather, then
leave the chamber in April or May to form a pupa in the
ground. The main adult flight is from June to August, with
small numbers of a second generation in the fall.

Although it is an abundant species throughout its range and in
many habitats, the Dark Arches caterpillar, unless it is disturbed
from its home, is seldom seen until it leaves the chamber to The Dark Arches caterpillar is gray brown, stout,
smooth, and shiny. On most segments, there are
pupate, which usually happens at night. Its lifestyle is identical four hardened, blackish plates in a trapezoidal
to that of the closely related and almost indistinguishable arrangement on the back and another group
on the side. On the rst three segments, some
Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea) and Reddish Light Arches plates are elongated and transverse. The head
(A. sublustris) caterpillars. is blackish or brown, and the rst and last
segments have a large, black plate.

Actual size