Species Details

ABH: 73.052

BF: 2216

Family: Noctuidae

Subfamily: Cuculliinae

Taxon: Cucullia umbratica

Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular: Shark

Account: Common in rough ground, chalk and limestone grassland, sand-dunes, shingle beaches and gardens throughout the British Isles The only confusion species is Chamomile Shark C. chamomillae, but C. umbratica has forewing fringes clear and unmarked, while on C. chamomillae they are cut by dark veins. Larva feeds on flowers and leaves of Beaked, Marsh, Rough and Smooth Hawk's-beard, Mouse-ear Hawkweed and Perennial Sow-thistle, over-wintering as a pupa.

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: 48 — 57 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 26 May (2003) — 11 Aug (1991)

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

Foodplant: Sonchus sp.

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

Status: Least Concern (LC)

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 2 — Care needed to identify, an image may be required 🤔
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/cucullia-umbratica/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 144

Individuals: 24

Earliest Year: 1903

Latest Year: 2020

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