Ghost Moth
Hepialus humuli
This record describes Hepialus humuli (species). Recorded family: Hepialidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan around 50 mm. The English name 'Ghost' comes from the white males, which can sometimes be seen at dusk, 'hovering' over grassy areas. The females are quite different, being yellow, marked with orange. The larvae feed underground on the roots of grasses and small plants. The males have leks in grassy places on downland and in meadows where they fly in numbers at dusk and the females wander, presumably on egg-laying missions. A fairly common species over much of Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Hepialus humuli: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepialus humuli.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Hepialoidea
- Family
- Hepialidae (Swift Moths)
- Genus
- Hepialus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Rough meadows and grassland.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly during June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed underground on the roots of grasses and small plants. The males have leks in grassy places on downland and in meadows where they fly in numbers at dusk and the females wander, presumably on egg-laying missions.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A fairly common species over much of Britain. 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 Hepialus humuli. 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 Ghost Moth (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Ghost Moth
What is Ghost Moth?
Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli) is a species in the family Hepialidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Ghost Moth found?
Habitat: Rough meadows and grassland.
When is Ghost Moth active?
Ghost Moth: seasonal activity - The adults fly during June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Ghost Moth?
The larvae feed underground on the roots of grasses and small plants. The males have leks in grassy places on downland and in meadows where they fly in numbers at dusk and the females wander, presumably on egg-laying missions.