Alder Moth
Acronicta alni
This record describes Acronicta alni (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 33 to 38 mm. This subtly-marked species varies less than some of its congeners, but melanic forms do occur in places. Damper areas around Alder and wooded areas containing Birch. The adults appear in May and June and are attracted to mercury vapour light. Prior to the use of this trapping method, the species was considered quite rare, as it seldom comes to sugar or flowers. The larva when young resembles a bird dropping, but when mature is highly distinctive, being black and yellow with a number of club-like hairs. It feeds on a number of different trees, particularly Alder and Birch. Thinly scattered over most of England and Wales. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Acronicta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Damper areas around Alder and wooded areas containing Birch.
Seasonal Activity
The adults appear in May and June and are attracted to mercury vapour light. Prior to the use of this trapping method, the species was considered quite rare, as it seldom comes to sugar or flowers.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva when young resembles a bird dropping, but when mature is highly distinctive, being black and yellow with a number of club-like hairs. It feeds on a number of different trees, particularly Alder and Birch.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Thinly scattered over most of England and Wales. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acronicta alni. 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 Alder Moth (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Alder Moth
What is Alder Moth?
Alder Moth (Acronicta alni) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Alder Moth found?
Habitat: Damper areas around Alder and wooded areas containing Birch.
When is Alder Moth active?
Alder Moth: seasonal activity - The adults appear in May and June and are attracted to mercury vapour light. Prior to the use of this trapping method, the species was considered quite rare, as it seldom comes to sugar or flowers..
What is the life cycle of a Alder Moth?
The larva when young resembles a bird dropping, but when mature is highly distinctive, being black and yellow with a number of club-like hairs. It feeds on a number of different trees, particularly Alder and Birch.