Bordered Straw
Heliothis peltigera
This record describes Heliothis peltigera (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
It is quite variable, and it is suggested that the paler individuals derive from desert origin, these often arriving with Saharan 'dust storms'. Various, but often near the south coast. June to August is the main arrival period. In a good migration year, larvae are often recorded, especially in southern coastal districts. The larvae feed on a number of herbaceous plants, including often garden Marigolds. A migrant species, which varies in numbers from year to year, with large numbers in some years and absent in others, with southern England the most frequent location. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as a migrant.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Heliothis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various, but often near the south coast.
Seasonal Activity
June to August is the main arrival period.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
In a good migration year, larvae are often recorded, especially in southern coastal districts. The larvae feed on a number of herbaceous plants, including often garden Marigolds.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A migrant species, which varies in numbers from year to year, with large numbers in some years and absent in others, with southern England the most frequent location. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as a migrant.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Heliothis peltigera. 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 Bordered Straw (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Bordered Straw
What is Bordered Straw?
Bordered Straw (Heliothis peltigera) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Bordered Straw found?
Habitat: Various, but often near the south coast.
When is Bordered Straw active?
Bordered Straw: seasonal activity - June to August is the main arrival period..
What is the life cycle of a Bordered Straw?
In a good migration year, larvae are often recorded, especially in southern coastal districts. The larvae feed on a number of herbaceous plants, including often garden Marigolds.