Dark Spectacle

Abrostola triplasia

Reasonably common in southern and western parts of Britain, but elsewhere is rather local.

Occurring in suburban habitats, waste ground and woodland margins, it flies in June and July, sometimes with a second generation in the autumn.

Mainly nocturnal.

The Larvae feed mainly on nettle (Urtica dioica) in the autumn, and the species overwinters as a pupa.

The fore wings of this moth are blackish grey inclining to purplish and rather shining; the basal area is pale reddish brown, edged by a curved dark chocolate brown cross line; a reddish grey band on the outer area clouded with ground colour.