Dusky Sallow
Eremobia ochroleuca
This record describes Eremobia ochroleuca (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 34 to 37 mm. This is a quite distinctively-marked moth. It prefers dry, chalky or stony habitats as well as sand-dunes and shingle beaches. Flies in July and August, when it can be found feeding at various flowers, as well as being attracted to light. The larvae feed on the flowering stems of various grasses, especially Cock's foot. It is mainly confined to the south-east of England and East Anglia, with scattered occurrences elsewhere up to Yorkshire. 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
- Eremobia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It prefers dry, chalky or stony habitats as well as sand-dunes and shingle beaches.
Seasonal Activity
Flies in July and August, when it can be found feeding at various flowers, as well as being attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on the flowering stems of various grasses, especially Cock's foot.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is mainly confined to the south-east of England and East Anglia, with scattered occurrences elsewhere up to Yorkshire. 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 Eremobia ochroleuca. 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 Dusky Sallow (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Dusky Sallow
What is Dusky Sallow?
Dusky Sallow (Eremobia ochroleuca) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Dusky Sallow found?
Habitat: It prefers dry, chalky or stony habitats as well as sand-dunes and shingle beaches.
When is Dusky Sallow active?
Dusky Sallow: seasonal activity - Flies in July and August, when it can be found feeding at various flowers, as well as being attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Dusky Sallow?
The larvae feed on the flowering stems of various grasses, especially Cock's foot.