Gold Spot
Plusia festucae
This record describes Plusia festucae (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 34-46 mm. A distinctive and colourful species. Marshes, fens, woodland rides and upland grassland and, on heathland, moorland and river-banks It has two generations in the south, sometimes only one in the north, flying between June and September The larvae feed on a variety of plants, mainly associated with these damp habitats. Reasonably common throughout the whole of Britain. 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
- Plusia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Marshes, fens, woodland rides and upland grassland and, on heathland, moorland and river-banks
Seasonal Activity
It has two generations in the south, sometimes only one in the north, flying between June and September
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a variety of plants, mainly associated with these damp habitats.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Reasonably common throughout the whole 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 Plusia festucae. 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 Gold Spot (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Gold Spot
What is Gold Spot?
Gold Spot (Plusia festucae) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Gold Spot found?
Habitat: Marshes, fens, woodland rides and upland grassland and, on heathland, moorland and river-banks
When is Gold Spot active?
Gold Spot: seasonal activity - It has two generations in the south, sometimes only one in the north, flying between June and September.
What is the life cycle of a Gold Spot?
The larvae feed on a variety of plants, mainly associated with these damp habitats.