Common Rustic agg.
Mesapamea secalis agg.
This record describes Mesapamea secalis agg. (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Formerly a single species, this has now been split giving Lesser Common Rustic specific status. Generally very variable, the pair cannot be reliably separated without dissection. If selecting individuals for dissection, the very dark forms with almost white stigmata are likely to be Lesser Common Rustic, however browner/variegated forms may be either species. Various habitats especially grassy areas. July and August. Regularly come to light. The larvae feed inside the stems of various grasses, including Cock's-foot and Tall Fescue. The species is very common throughout Britain and regularly comes to light. Common Rustic agg. is common in VC55, and dissection shows both species to be widely present.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Mesapamea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various habitats especially grassy areas.
Seasonal Activity
July and August. Regularly come to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed inside the stems of various grasses, including Cock's-foot and Tall Fescue.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The species is very common throughout Britain and regularly comes to light.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Mesapamea secalis agg.. 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 Common Rustic agg. (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Common Rustic agg.
What is Common Rustic agg.?
Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Common Rustic agg. found?
Habitat: Various habitats especially grassy areas.
When is Common Rustic agg. active?
Common Rustic agg.: seasonal activity - July and August. Regularly come to light..
What is the life cycle of a Common Rustic agg.?
The larvae feed inside the stems of various grasses, including Cock's-foot and Tall Fescue.