Dark Chestnut
Conistra ligula
This record describes Conistra ligula (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Similar to The Chestnut ( C. vaccinii ), but can be told by the S-shaped outer edge to the forewing, which is more rounded in C. vaccinii . Woodland and more open country including farmland. It flies in October and November, and only occasionally later in the winter. The larvae initially feed on the catkins and leaves of willows and other trees, but later on herbaceous plants. Quite frequent, though lesIn a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.s common than The Chestnut, and with a more southerly distribution. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Conistra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Woodland and more open country including farmland.
Seasonal Activity
It flies in October and November, and only occasionally later in the winter.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae initially feed on the catkins and leaves of willows and other trees, but later on herbaceous plants.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Quite frequent, though lesIn a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.s common than The Chestnut, and with a more southerly distribution. 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 Conistra ligula. 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 Dark Chestnut (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Dark Chestnut
What is Dark Chestnut?
Dark Chestnut (Conistra ligula) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Dark Chestnut found?
Habitat: Woodland and more open country including farmland.
When is Dark Chestnut active?
Dark Chestnut: seasonal activity - It flies in October and November, and only occasionally later in the winter..
What is the life cycle of a Dark Chestnut?
The larvae initially feed on the catkins and leaves of willows and other trees, but later on herbaceous plants.