Dark Arches Moth vs Old Lady Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dark Arches Moth Old Lady Moth
Scientific Name Apamea monoglypha Mormo maura
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Noctuidae Noctuidae
Size 46-56 mm wingspan 60-75 mm wingspan
Habitat Farmland Rivers & Streams
Diet Root Feeders Omnivores
Regions Europe, Western Asia Europe, western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Dark Arches Moth

A large, dark brown moth with complex darker markings and pale stigmata. It is one of the largest and most frequently trapped noctuids in Europe.

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Did You Know?

Larvae have been recorded feeding on other moth caterpillars when food is scarce.

Old Lady Moth

A large, sombre dark-brown moth whose wing pattern was thought to resemble a shawl worn by elderly women. It hides in dark places by day, including outbuildings and cellars.

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Did You Know?

It is frequently found roosting in garden sheds and churches during the daytime in summer.