Blood-vein
Timandra comae
This record describes Timandra comae (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The adult rests with the wings held in such a position that the reddish cross-lines of the fore and hind wings form a continuous band. The fringes are also suffused with pink. There is a rare melanic form f.nigra . Marshes, river-banks, damp meadows and gardens. It has two generations, from May to July and in August and September. The larvae feed on low-growing plants such as Dock. This attractive moth is fairly common in the southern counties of England and Wales but scarcer further north and in Ireland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Geometridae
- Genus
- Timandra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Marshes, river-banks, damp meadows and gardens.
Seasonal Activity
It has two generations, from May to July and in August and September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on low-growing plants such as Dock.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This attractive moth is fairly common in the southern counties of England and Wales but scarcer further north and in Ireland. 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 Timandra comae. 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 Blood-vein (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Blood-vein
What is Blood-vein?
Blood-vein (Timandra comae) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Blood-vein found?
Habitat: Marshes, river-banks, damp meadows and gardens.
When is Blood-vein active?
Blood-vein: seasonal activity - It has two generations, from May to July and in August and September..
What is the life cycle of a Blood-vein?
The larvae feed on low-growing plants such as Dock.