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Svensson's Copper Underwing moth - Amphipyra berbera
Family - Noctuidae
One of the larger UK moth species with a wingspan of 46–58mm (1.8–2.25in), they are found throughout Europe, but in the UK is is seen mostly in the South in woodland, scrub, hedgerows, gardens and parks, our are usually seen sheltering in our tool storage building. Sexually dimorphic, the female is larger than the male. Overall brown with distinct black and pale markings, when at rest it looks as if it is wearing a richly patterned cloak. The hindwings are a uniform copper colour whilst those of the Copper Underwing A. pyramidea have a pale central area with darker margins.
Svensson's Copper Underwing can be confused with Copper Underwing – A. pyramidea, but with several differences, one is the labial palps, which when viewed face on in Svensson's are dark with pale tips whilst those of the Copper Underwing are pale throughout. The two species were only separately classified in the 1960s. Flying at night from July to October and over wintering as an egg, the larvae feed on a range of trees and shrubs including Oak, Sycamore, Willow, Rowan, Rhododendron and Hornbeam, all of which can be found in Brickfields Park.
The Svensson's Copper Underwing is part of the Noctuoidea superfamily which now comprises just over 11,000 species after reorganisation of the some 20,000 species that were originally in the group. Noctuidae are commonly known as Owlet moths, there are however only five Owlet moth species grouped in the Mesogona genus.
Agassiz #73.063, Bradley & Fletcher #2298
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