Dark Spinach Pelurga comitata
The Dark Spinach does look like the Spinach above a bit, but the are big differences between the species. The Dark Spinach is brownish, not yellowish and it has a clear dark dot in the middle part of the wing, not found on the Spinach. The Northern Spinach is quite similar too, but it has two big bends in the central crossband, where the Dark Spinach has only one. Actually it is not difficult to separate these three similar species.
The Dark Spinach is a brownish moth, reaching a wingspan of some 25 to 30 mm. The outer edge of the wing is yellowish to whitish brown and it shows a clear black dot in the central part of the wing. The colouring may be a little darker or lighter in some animals, but usually there is little variation between various specimens. The eggs are being laid in summer and there is just one breed a year. On the wing in July and August in Britain, but during a longer period of time on the continent.
The caterpillars appear from mid-July to October. They are ochrous and have a clear zig-zag line on the sides. A full-grown larvae measures around 20 to 23 mm. They are found on various food plants, but favour Orache and Goosefoot. By the end of october the larvae dig a hole in the ground, pupate and overwinter as such.
In most of Britain this is a common species. However in some parts it is a rather local species. Less common, but not really rare in Northern parts. This is a species of the moderate climate zone appearing all over Europe and Northern Asia.
