Flounced Rustic
Luperina testacea
This record describes Luperina testacea (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 30-35 mm. A very variable species both in colour and patterning. There is one generation, flying in August and September, when the species comes to light. The larvae feed underground in the bases of grass stems and amongst the roots. A common species in England and Wales, but more local in Scotland and 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
- Luperina
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occupying dry, grassy habitats
Seasonal Activity
There is one generation, flying in August and September, when the species comes to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed underground in the bases of grass stems and amongst the roots.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A common species in England and Wales, but more local in Scotland and 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 Luperina testacea. 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 Flounced Rustic (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Flounced Rustic
What is Flounced Rustic?
Flounced Rustic (Luperina testacea) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Flounced Rustic found?
Habitat: Occupying dry, grassy habitats
When is Flounced Rustic active?
Flounced Rustic: seasonal activity - There is one generation, flying in August and September, when the species comes to light..
What is the life cycle of a Flounced Rustic?
The larvae feed underground in the bases of grass stems and amongst the roots.