Dark Spectacle
Abrostola triplasia
This record describes Abrostola triplasia (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 28 to 32 mm. Similar in pattern to The Spectacle, but differs in several respects. Ground colour is brownish-black, base of forewing and thorax are dull straw or reddish brown and cross lines are edged with reddish brown. Occurring in suburban habitats, waste ground and woodland margins. It flies in June and July, sometimes with a second generation in the autumn. The larvae feed mainly on nettle (Urtica dioica) in the autumn, and the species overwinters as a pupa. Reasonably common in southern and western parts of Britain, but elsewhere is rather local. 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
- Abrostola
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occurring in suburban habitats, waste ground and woodland margins.
Seasonal Activity
It flies in June and July, sometimes with a second generation in the autumn.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed mainly on nettle (Urtica dioica) in the autumn, and the species overwinters as a pupa.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Reasonably common in southern and western parts of Britain, but elsewhere is rather local. 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 Abrostola triplasia. 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 Spectacle (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Dark Spectacle
What is Dark Spectacle?
Dark Spectacle (Abrostola triplasia) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Dark Spectacle found?
Habitat: Occurring in suburban habitats, waste ground and woodland margins.
When is Dark Spectacle active?
Dark Spectacle: seasonal activity - It flies in June and July, sometimes with a second generation in the autumn..
What is the life cycle of a Dark Spectacle?
The larvae feed mainly on nettle (Urtica dioica) in the autumn, and the species overwinters as a pupa.