Beautiful Marbled
Eublemma purpurina
This record describes Eublemma purpurina (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 25 to 30 mm. A very beautiful and distinctive moth. Although distinctive in appearance, photographic evidence is requested to support records for this species due to its rarity in Britain at present. Dry grassland. It occurs in Britain as a migrant from mainland Europe and is most often recorded near to the coast. Double-brooded on the continent; May to June and August to September The larvae feed on Creeping Thistle, no evidence of breeding in the UK. This rare migrant was first noted in Britain when an individual was trapped at Portland in Dorset, in August 2004. Subsequent investigation revealed that a number of individuals appeared around the south coast around this time, some predating the initial record, and in fact a hitherto misidentified specimen was unearthed from 2001. The species has since occurred on a number of occasions in the south and south-east of England. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as a migrant. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Erebidae
- Genus
- Eublemma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Dry grassland. It occurs in Britain as a migrant from mainland Europe and is most often recorded near to the coast.
Seasonal Activity
Double-brooded on the continent; May to June and August to September
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Creeping Thistle, no evidence of breeding in the UK.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eublemma purpurina. 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 Beautiful Marbled (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Beautiful Marbled
What is Beautiful Marbled?
Beautiful Marbled (Eublemma purpurina) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Beautiful Marbled found?
Habitat: Dry grassland. It occurs in Britain as a migrant from mainland Europe and is most often recorded near to the coast.
When is Beautiful Marbled active?
Beautiful Marbled: seasonal activity - Double-brooded on the continent; May to June and August to September.
What is the life cycle of a Beautiful Marbled?
The larvae feed on Creeping Thistle, no evidence of breeding in the UK.