Straw underwing

Wingspan 38–46 mm. Forewing grey brown with darker dusting and suffusion; veins towards termen pale grey; a slight rufous tinge longitudinally along both folds, more conspicuous at the outer edge of reniform stigma; inner and outer lines black, conversely pale edged; the submarginal obscurely pale, indented on each fold, and preceded by a dark shade; the three stigmata black edged, their centres more or less tinged with rufous, the orbicular and reniform with an obscure pale ring; hindwing straw yellow with a broad fuscous terminal border, broadening at apex; in the form texta Esp. the forewing is darker and duller, with the paler markings all obscured. ==Biology==

This moth flies at night in July and August and is attracted to light, sugar and various nectar-rich flowers. Larva grey brown; dorsal line dark with pale centre; on each side a series of pale and dark longitudinal lines, the subdorsal and lateral edged with darker. It feeds on various grasses such as Dactylis. This species overwinters as a small larva. Prefers dry grassland habitats, forest edges, and park-like landscapes. • The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range. File:Thalpophila matura-pjt2.jpg|Detail of the front part of the body File:Thalpophila matura hw entomart.jpg|Detail of the hind wings File:Thalpophila matura larva.jpg|Larva ==References==