Dark Sword-grass Agrotis ipsilon - Distribution map

Please note that the NBN Gateway map service has been terminated as of 1 April 2017.

As soon as a replacement map service is available, distribution maps will hopefully appear here again.

In the meantime, you can get some idea of distribution from the NBN Atlas website.

View the NBN Atlas Map

73.327 BF2091

Dark Sword-grass Agrotis ipsilon

(Hufnagel, 1766)


Wingspan 35-50 mm.

One of Britain's most regular migrants, it can appear in large numbers in some years, and then be relatively scarce in others.

Occurring in any month between March and November, it is however most numerous between August and October, and though more frequent in the south, can turn up almost anywhere.

The larvae feed on or below the ground and at night, on various herbaceous plants and their roots. Due to its retiring nature, breeding in this country has never been reliably proven.
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