Ipsilon Dart Moth
Agrotis ipsilon
This record describes Agrotis ipsilon (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. 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.
Wikipedia reference for Agrotis ipsilon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrotis ipsilon.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Cutworm Moths and Allies)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Agrotis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Frequents various habitats.
Seasonal Activity
Occurring in any month between March and November, it is however most numerous between August and October and will come to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on or below the ground and at night, on various herbaceous plants and their roots. Due to its retiring nature, breeding in this country has never been reliably proven.
Additional species information
Recorded status
One of Britain's most regular migrants, it can appear in large numbers in some years and then be relatively scarce in others and, though more frequent in the south, it can turn up almost anywhere. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as a migrant.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agrotis ipsilon. 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 Ipsilon Dart Moth (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Ipsilon Dart Moth
How big is Ipsilon Dart Moth?
18mm to 22mm (0.70" to 0.86")
Where is Ipsilon Dart Moth found?
Habitat: Frequents various habitats.
When is Ipsilon Dart Moth active?
Ipsilon Dart Moth: seasonal activity - Occurring in any month between March and November, it is however most numerous between August and October and will come to light..
What is the life cycle of a Ipsilon Dart Moth?
The larvae feed on or below the ground and at night, on various herbaceous plants and their roots. Due to its retiring nature, breeding in this country has never been reliably proven.