Beautiful China-mark
Nymphula nitidulata
This record describes Nymphula nitidulata (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 18-22 mm. One of the more distinctive and beautiful members of the Pyralidae. On the wing during July and August. It flies in the evening and at night, and comes readily to light. Larvae are aquatic, feeding on Bur-reed and other water plants. Fairly widespread throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Crambidae
- Genus
- Nymphula
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around lakes, rivers and ponds
Seasonal Activity
On the wing during July and August. It flies in the evening and at night, and comes readily to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larvae are aquatic, feeding on Bur-reed and other water plants.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly widespread throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Nymphula nitidulata. 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 Beautiful China-mark (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Beautiful China-mark
What is Beautiful China-mark?
Beautiful China-mark (Nymphula nitidulata) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Beautiful China-mark found?
Habitat: Around lakes, rivers and ponds
When is Beautiful China-mark active?
Beautiful China-mark: seasonal activity - On the wing during July and August. It flies in the evening and at night, and comes readily to light..
What is the life cycle of a Beautiful China-mark?
Larvae are aquatic, feeding on Bur-reed and other water plants.