Bird's Wing
Dypterygia scabriuscula
This record describes Dypterygia scabriuscula (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
It frequents deciduous woodland and parkland. Flies in June and July, occasionally again in autumn in the south. The larvae feed on low plants such as dock and knotgrass. Distributed mainly in the south-east of England and north Midlands, this distinctive species is quite scarce elsewhere. 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
- Dypterygia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It frequents deciduous woodland and parkland.
Seasonal Activity
Flies in June and July, occasionally again in autumn in the south.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on low plants such as dock and knotgrass.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Distributed mainly in the south-east of England and north Midlands, this distinctive species is quite scarce elsewhere. 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 Dypterygia scabriuscula. 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 Bird's Wing (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Bird's Wing
What is Bird's Wing?
Bird's Wing (Dypterygia scabriuscula) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Bird's Wing found?
Habitat: It frequents deciduous woodland and parkland.
When is Bird's Wing active?
Bird's Wing: seasonal activity - Flies in June and July, occasionally again in autumn in the south..
What is the life cycle of a Bird's Wing?
The larvae feed on low plants such as dock and knotgrass.