The Coronet
Craniophora ligustri
This record describes Craniophora ligustri (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 30 to 35 mm. When fresh, some individuals show an olive-green suffusion to the darker parts of the forewing. The habitat preferences are woodland, commons, downland and marshy places. The flight period is during June and July. The larval foodplants are ash and privet. Widely distributed, but not common, throughout much of Britain, it is more frequent in the south and south-west. 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
- Craniophora
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
The habitat preferences are woodland, commons, downland and marshy places.
Seasonal Activity
The flight period is during June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larval foodplants are ash and privet.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widely distributed, but not common, throughout much of Britain, it is more frequent in the south and south-west. 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 Craniophora ligustri. 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 The Coronet (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About The Coronet
What is The Coronet?
The Coronet (Craniophora ligustri) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is The Coronet found?
Habitat: The habitat preferences are woodland, commons, downland and marshy places.
When is The Coronet active?
The Coronet: seasonal activity - The flight period is during June and July..
What is the life cycle of a The Coronet?
The larval foodplants are ash and privet.