Dot Moth
Melanchra persicariae
This record describes Melanchra persicariae (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 37-40 mm. A dark coloured moth with distinctive pale dot on each wing. Frequenting a range of suburban habitats, including gardens, waste ground and roadside verges. The adults are on the wing in July and August, and frequently visit the garden moth-trap. The larvae feed on a wide range of garden and wild plants. Although very common and widespread in England and Wales, this species is almost unknown in Scotland, except in the extreme south of the country where it occurs scarcely. It is local in Ireland.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
- Melanchra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Frequenting a range of suburban habitats, including gardens, waste ground and roadside verges.
Seasonal Activity
The adults are on the wing in July and August, and frequently visit the garden moth-trap.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a wide range of garden and wild plants.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Although very common and widespread in England and Wales, this species is almost unknown in Scotland, except in the extreme south of the country where it occurs scarcely. It is local in Ireland.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 Melanchra persicariae. 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 Dot Moth (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Dot Moth
What is Dot Moth?
Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Dot Moth found?
Habitat: Frequenting a range of suburban habitats, including gardens, waste ground and roadside verges.
When is Dot Moth active?
Dot Moth: seasonal activity - The adults are on the wing in July and August, and frequently visit the garden moth-trap..
What is the life cycle of a Dot Moth?
The larvae feed on a wide range of garden and wild plants.