Dog's Tooth
Lacanobia suasa
This record describes Lacanobia suasa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
It prefers lowland habitats, including estuaries, river valleys and salt marshes. It is double-brooded in the south, flying in May and June, then August and September. In the north, the single generation appears on the wing in June and July. The larvae feed on such low plants as dock and plantain. A locally distributed species, mainly in England and Wales, but also occurring in Ireland, and scarcely in southern Scotland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Lacanobia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It prefers lowland habitats, including estuaries, river valleys and salt marshes.
Seasonal Activity
It is double-brooded in the south, flying in May and June, then August and September. In the north, the single generation appears on the wing in June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on such low plants as dock and plantain.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A locally distributed species, mainly in England and Wales, but also occurring in Ireland, and scarcely in southern 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 Lacanobia suasa. 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 Dog's Tooth (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog's Tooth
What is Dog's Tooth?
Dog's Tooth (Lacanobia suasa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Dog's Tooth found?
Habitat: It prefers lowland habitats, including estuaries, river valleys and salt marshes.
When is Dog's Tooth active?
Dog's Tooth: seasonal activity - It is double-brooded in the south, flying in May and June, then August and September. In the north, the single generation appears on the wing in June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Dog's Tooth?
The larvae feed on such low plants as dock and plantain.