Barred Yellow
Cidaria fulvata
This record describes Cidaria fulvata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 20-25 mm. A smallish, brightly-coloured species its yellow wings banded with reddish brown. It prefers woodland, chalk down land and scrubland. Widely distributed throughout Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Geometridae
- Genus
- Cidaria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It prefers woodland, chalk down land and scrubland.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larvae feed on the leaves of Dog Rose.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widely distributed throughout Britain. 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 Cidaria fulvata. 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 Barred Yellow (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Barred Yellow
What is Barred Yellow?
Barred Yellow (Cidaria fulvata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Barred Yellow found?
Habitat: It prefers woodland, chalk down land and scrubland.
When is Barred Yellow active?
Barred Yellow: seasonal activity - The adults fly in June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Barred Yellow?
Larvae feed on the leaves of Dog Rose.