Chocolate-tip
Clostera curtula
This record describes Clostera curtula (species). Recorded family: Notodontidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 27-35 mm. An unmistakable species with the red-brown 'chocolate' wing tips, as well as a similar coloured stripe on the crown of the head and red-brown feet. The English population has two generations, with adults at large in April and May, and again in August and September. In Scotland the species is single-brooded, flying from June to July. The larvae feed on Poplar especially Aspen as well as Willow. Having a disjointed distribution, this moth can be found in the southern half of England and in Wales, but elsewhere only in parts of Scotland. 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
- Notodontidae
- Genus
- Clostera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Woodland and well wooded areas.
Seasonal Activity
The English population has two generations, with adults at large in April and May, and again in August and September. In Scotland the species is single-brooded, flying from June to July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Poplar especially Aspen as well as Willow.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Having a disjointed distribution, this moth can be found in the southern half of England and in Wales, but elsewhere only in parts of Scotland. 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 Clostera curtula. 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 Chocolate-tip (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Chocolate-tip
What is Chocolate-tip?
Chocolate-tip (Clostera curtula) is a species in the family Notodontidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Chocolate-tip found?
Habitat: Woodland and well wooded areas.
When is Chocolate-tip active?
Chocolate-tip: seasonal activity - The English population has two generations, with adults at large in April and May, and again in August and September. In Scotland the species is single-brooded, flying from June to July..
What is the life cycle of a Chocolate-tip?
The larvae feed on Poplar especially Aspen as well as Willow.