Apamea rubrirena

Apamea rubrirena is a moth species in the Noctuidae family. It is distributed across northern and western Europe, extending east through Russia and Asia to Japan and Korea. This species is also found on the Kuril Islands, Aleutian Islands, and was first reported in Alaska in 1989. These moths inhabit montane to subalpine coniferous forests at elevations up to 2,400 meters above sea level. In Europe, they are particularly common in the Alps and lower mountains, while in Russia, they are found in the taiga.

Apamea rubrirena exhibits a wingspan of 40–51 mm and is highly variable in color, wing shape, and size. The head and thorax are black-brown with white hairs and a meta-thoracic rufous crest. The forewings range in color from pale orange to reddish or blackish brown, featuring reniform rufous patches and transversal wavy lines. The hind wings are monochrome light gray-brown with prominent veins. The tarsi are black with whitish rings.

The biology of Apamea rubrirena includes overwintering caterpillars that pupate in May or June of the following year. Adults fly from mid-June to August, sometimes into September under favorable conditions, making this a univoltine species with one generation per year. The larvae feed on various grasses, such as Festuca altissima and Calamagrostis arundinacea. Adults are nocturnal and have been observed taking nectar from plants like Rubus, Cirsium oleraceum, Silene vulgaris, and Phyteuma.