Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
A. vestigialis,
below);
spiracles
black.
Pupa 18-
20mm long, reddish-brown and glossy;
cremaster
with two divergent spines.
Agrotis vestigialis
(Hufnagel)
Archer's dart moth
Minor damage to grass and cereal crops is occa-
sionally attributable to this locally distributed
species, usually in coastal districts. Adults occur
in July and August and the larvae feed from
August to the following May. Adults (32-38 mm
wingspan) have pale brown, whitish-marked
forewings and (in male) whitish or (in female)
greyish hindwings. Larvae (up to 35 mm long)
are greyish-green to greyish-brown and purplish-
tinged, with darker longitudinal lines, black
pinacula and spiracles, and distinctly quadrate
mandibles; both the head and prothoracic plate
are banded with black (cf.
Agrotis segetum,
p. 234).
Agrotis exclamationis
(L.)
Heart & dart moth
Although an often abundant moth, larvae of this
pest are far less troublesome than those of the
previous species. Larvae (up to 35 mm long) are
similar to those of
Agrotis segetum
(p. 234), but
the adfrontal plates are pointed apically
(Fig.
318b),
the body less shiny and the spiracles no-
ticeably larger. They feed from July onwards,
normally overwinter as fully fed individuals and
pupate in the spring. Adults (38-40 mm wing-
span) are mainly brown with blackish markings
(including a distinctive black "dart')
(Fig. 316b)
and greyish (female) or whitish (male)
hindwings; unlike the previous species, the an-
tennae of male moths are not noticeable
bipectinate
(Fig. 317b).
They fly in June and July.
Apamea sordens
(Hufnagel)
Rustic shoulder knot
This generally common species is a minor pest of
wheat and barley; the larvae also attack various
grasses. The larvae feed mainly on leaves and
stems but, in summer, the young larvae will also
invade the ears and bore into the developing
grain. The cause of the hollowed grain often goes
unrecognized.
Agrotis ipsilon
(Hufnagel)
Dark sword-grass moth
This cutworm species, although often important
in continental Europe, is of only minor impor-
tance in the British Isles, where it causes damage
only sporadically. The larvae attack various
plants, including asparagus, lettuce, onion, po-
tato, red beet and sweet corn. Adults occur from
July to September and the larvae feed from au-
tumn onwards; they complete their development
in the following spring and early summer. Adults
(40-55 mm wingspan) have mainly dark pur-
plish-brown to pale ochreous forewings and
pearly-white, blackish-suffused hindwings. The
larvae (up to 40 mm long) are grey to bronzy-
brown with two white spots on the head, a ring of
four black spots on each of the first two thoracic
segments and two black spots on each of the
remaining body segments; the skin is noticeably
warty. Infestations of this species in northern
Europe are usually dependent upon significant
northerly migrations of adults from Mediterra-
nean areas.
BIOLOGY
Moths occur in May and June, and deposit their
eggs on the leaves and developing ears of grasses
and cereals. After egg hatch, the larvae feed
mainly in the ears where they attack the develop-
ing grain. They are active only at night, and re-
main hidden during the daytime. In autumn the
larvae enter hibernation. They reappear early in
the following spring and then attack the plant
stems and leaves. Fully feed larvae pupate in the
soil, each in an earthen cell, and adults emerge a
few weeks later.
DESCRIPTION
Adult
34-42 mm wingspan;
forewings
pale
brown with a short black basal streak;
hindwings
pale brown with a darker margin.
Larva
up to
35 mm long;
body
greyish-brown to olive-brown
