Yorkshire Status: Probably common and widespread.

The two Common Rustic species were not separated until 1984 so it is difficult to comment on their abundance before then. The dots on the maps are of dissected specimens and vastly underestimate how common this species is. The map of Common Rustic agg. gives a better idea. We receive several hundred records each year of 'Common Rustic' and 'Lesser Common Rustic'. These two species are not separable by forewing characters and should always be logged as 'Common Rustic agg.' or 'Mesapamea secalis agg.' unless dissected. If the genitalia have been examined, please indicate this clearly. Genitalia determination should be done with care. The differences are slight and they are not the easiest species for beginners to dissect. Common Rustic is the commoner of the two species in most habitats in a ratio of around 2:1. These are both grassland moths and occur in a wide variety of grassy places including gardens. It is likely that both occur widely across the county.

Sutton & Beaumont, 1989: This species has been recorded as common throughout all five vice-counties. However, M. didyma (Esper) has been recently separated and it is not yet clear how the two species are distributed in the County. In 1987 four specimens caught in Wharfedale (VC64) were dissected by A.M. Riley. One proved to be M. secalis, the other three being M. didyma (WNS). Out of the Spurn 1987 catch 58 male moths were dissected, 48 proved to be secalis and only ten didyma (BRS). It is likely therefore that the two species are intermixed in most kinds of habitat but further information is needed to work out whether there is any pattern between the relative abundances of the two species in the County as a whole.

	Determination by Genitalia Examination (gen. det.) Required

Recorded in 65 (33%) of 200 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1968.
Last Recorded in 2023.
Additional Stats