Dotted Fan-foot
Macrochilo cribrumalis
This record describes Macrochilo cribrumalis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Please provide a photograph to support your record. Inhabits mostly fens, reed beds and other watery habitats. The flight period is from late June to August, when the adults can be found from dusk onwards, flying amongst the reeds. Larva feeds on Hairy Wood-rush, Field Wood-rush and Sedge, and overwinters in this stage, completing its growth in the spring. A localised species, usually occurring in East Anglia and some parts of southern England. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Erebidae
- Genus
- Macrochilo
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Inhabits mostly fens, reed beds and other watery habitats.
Seasonal Activity
The flight period is from late June to August, when the adults can be found from dusk onwards, flying amongst the reeds.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva feeds on Hairy Wood-rush, Field Wood-rush and Sedge, and overwinters in this stage, completing its growth in the spring.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A localised species, usually occurring in East Anglia and some parts of southern England. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Macrochilo cribrumalis. 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 Dotted Fan-foot (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Dotted Fan-foot
What is Dotted Fan-foot?
Dotted Fan-foot (Macrochilo cribrumalis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Dotted Fan-foot found?
Habitat: Inhabits mostly fens, reed beds and other watery habitats.
When is Dotted Fan-foot active?
Dotted Fan-foot: seasonal activity - The flight period is from late June to August, when the adults can be found from dusk onwards, flying amongst the reeds..
What is the life cycle of a Dotted Fan-foot?
Larva feeds on Hairy Wood-rush, Field Wood-rush and Sedge, and overwinters in this stage, completing its growth in the spring.