Knot Grass x 2?? (1 Viewer)

Friends

Last night I caught 2 apparently different Noctuids.

The first seems to be a fairly definite Knot Grass. Wing length 16mm [See pics 1 and 2], though I'd welcome confirmation (or refusal!!), of course

The other is darker, less well-marked, but still with the white "commas" on the trailing edges of the wings..and the wing length is 18mm - it's just a 'bigger' moth in general. [See pics 3 and 4] Do you think it's just a differently marked Knot Grass?

Any thoughts by those who know the species would be welcome (it's only my second..and possibly third!!).

I also enclose a nice pic of Dewick's Plusia, which is relatively common here, but is 2 weeks earlier this year than in 2005 and 2006. [Pic 5]

Best

David

I'm not too sure cos I haven't seen them this dark but I would have said that they were both Poplar Greys (Acronicta megacephala).

Nice Dewick's Plusia - I'm yet to see them in Britain.

PaulK said:

I'm not too sure cos I haven't seen them this dark but I would have said that they were both Poplar Greys (Acronicta megacephala).

Nice Dewick's Plusia - I'm yet to see them in Britain.

Click to expand...

Paul,

Thanks for this comment. I had looked at Polar Grey, but had ruled it out because both of these specimens have the white 'comma' mark along the trailing edge, which I believe is supposed to distinguish Knot Grass from Poplar Grey. I'll have another look.

Best

David