The Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is distributed throughout the Palearctic ecozone (Europe, Russia, Turkey, Afghanistan, Tibet, Siberia, Yunnan, Amur, Russian Far East, Sakhalin, Japan) and is also found in North America.

Apamea sordens finitima

Apamea sordens finitima

Formerly Apamea finitima was considered a separate species and has also been classifies as a subspecies of Apamea basilinea, which is now also a synonym of Apamea sordens.

This species has a wingspan of 36–42 mm. The forewings are brown with mostly indistinct markings except for a narrow but distinctive black mark at the very base of the wing which gives the species its common name. The hindwings are greyish brown, darker towards the margin, with prominently dark venation. This moth flies at night in May and June ^[1] and is attracted to light and sugar.

The larva feeds on various grasses, including cereals (see list below). This species overwinters as a larva, feeding in mild weather throughout the season.

1. ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

Subspecies

• Apamea sordens finitima
• Apamea sordens cerivana (Alberta)
• Apamea sordens sableana Mikkola, 2009

Recorded food plants

• Avena - Oat
• Dactylis
• Festuca
• Hordeum - Barley
• Leymus
• Phalaris
• Phleum
• Secale - Rye
• Triticum - Wheat
• Zea - Maize
• Zizania

See.^[1]

Habitat, Siberia

Habitat

Fields, grasslands, steppe.

References

• Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
• Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984