Key to Text Moths of Northamptonshire

Key to Map
  Gold Spot Plusia festucae  
         
  Status: Resident.

Distribution and Abundance: Rather local.

Primary Habitat: Wetland.

Flight Period: Probably double brooded from June to September.

Observations: The species has significantly increased in numbers and range within the county in recent years and has become a regular feature in garden light traps. A total of twenty-five examples of the moth were taken at light in a Woodnewton garden in August 2009. Due to its similarity in appearance to its congener Lempke’s Gold Spot (P. putnami) and that the two species were not separated until comparatively recently there are probably early records for Lempke’s Gold Spot included under this species.

L.O.N.: 1906. Near Castor. Scarce.

First Record: 1890, Edwards.