Species Details

ABH: 73.015

BF: 2441

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Plusiinae

Taxon: Autographa gamma

Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular: Silver Y

Account: Common immigrant from mainland Europe, appearing throughout the British Isles, in most years arriving in sufficient numbers to breed A familiar and conspicuous moth, often seen by day nectaring in a wide range of habitats, when confusion with Humming-bird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum is possible. Larva polyphagous on plants such as Stinging Nettle, Hedge Bedstraw, Clover, brassicas and legumes, causing sufficient damage to be a serious pest in some areas; unable to over-winter in significant numbers.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 40 — 48 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 17 Mar (1997) — 17 Dec (2003)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Polyphagous.

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Migrant

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/autographa-gamma/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 2288

Individuals: 2943

Earliest Year: 1903

Latest Year: 2025

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