True Lover's Knot Lycophotia porphyrea
True Lover
Adult • Littleborough, Lancashire • © Ian Kimber

73.338 BF2118

True Lover's Knot Lycophotia porphyrea

([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)


Wingspan 25-30 mm.

A small but attractive moth, with distinctive chestnut, black and white markings, often with a purplish tinge.

A moorland and heathland species, occurring widely over the whole of Britain, and often the commonest of the Noctuidae in these habitats.

It flies between June and August in a single generation, and is attracted to light.

The well-camouflaged larvae feed on heather (Calluna) and heath (Erica).
back to top