Status
Morley's Final Catalogue: Common rustic was just a single species in Morley's time.
A pest at light in July everywhere, especially noted at Ipswich, Needham, Monks Soham, Gorleston.
Recent Suffolk Status: There are very few confirmed Lesser common rustic records in the county and they are widely scattered.
Life history: Single-brooded.
Identification: This species and Common rustic can only be separated by dissection as they are both very similar and equally variable. Any undissected moths need to be recorded as aggregate.
Forms of Common rustic agg. that are very dark, almost blackish in colour with a clear white kidney mark quite often turn out to be Lesser common rustic on dissection and most of the confirmed Suffolk records are of this form.
Small clouded brindle flies earlier in the season so any moths still around when Common rustic agg. appears on the wing are usually very worn.
Habitat: A wide variety of grassy habitats including gardens.  | Determination by Genitalia Examination Required | |
Recorded in 15 (26%) of 58 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1994.
Last Recorded in 2021. |