Coronet (Craniophora ligustri) | Species | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Taken at Abingdon, Oxon., on July 17th 2021. (1/400th sec at f13. © David Hastings) DescriptionFamily: Noctuidae Wing span: 34 - 38mm This species is quite different from other daggers. The general wing colour appears blackish, but closer inspection reveals a subtle pattern or brownish-purple and dark olive green, with numerous black cross-lines and blotches. White marks beyond the kidney mark resemble a coronet. It is well distributed and locally frequent in in southern, SE and SW England, East Anglia, the SW Midlands and Wales. It is also found in NW England, W Scotland and W Ireland. It is said to favour woodland, scrub on calcareous grassland, mountain stream-sides and open hillsides. This does not explain why one was recorded in suburban Oxfordshire in 2021. There is one generation between late May and early August. It over-winters as a pupa. Larvae feed on Ash and Wild Privet. It comes to light and sugar. Sightings
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