Herald Moth
Scoliopteryx libatrix
This record describes Scoliopteryx libatrix (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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Terms from the source record, grouped for readability. Broad terms such as size or location are not measurements or a confirmed range.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae
- Subfamily
- Scoliopteryginae
- Tribe
- Scoliopterygini
- Genus
- Scoliopteryx
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Open broadleaved woodland, hedgerows, parks and gardens.
Seasonal Activity
Overwinters as an adult and as a result, can be one of the last species to be seen in one year and one of the first in the next. It is also sometimes found hibernating inside barns and outbuildings. The adults are attracted to both light and sugar.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Willow and Poplar.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly common and well distributed over much of Britain, though it is less common in Scotland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Scoliopteryx libatrix. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Herald Moth (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Herald Moth
How big is Herald Moth?
38mm to 45mm (1.49" to 1.77")
Where is Herald Moth found?
Habitat: Open broadleaved woodland, hedgerows, parks and gardens.
When is Herald Moth active?
Herald Moth: seasonal activity - Overwinters as an adult and as a result, can be one of the last species to be seen in one year and one of the first in the next. It is also sometimes found hibernating inside barns and outbuildings. The adults are attracted to both light and sugar..
What is the life cycle of a Herald Moth?
The larvae feed on Willow and Poplar.