Latticed Heath
Chiasmia clathrata
This record describes Chiasmia clathrata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 20-25 mm. Quite a variable species, with several named forms and subspecies, and the ground colour varying from yellowish to white. It occurs in a range of open habitats, including moorland, grassland and waste ground. There are usually two generations, especially in the south, flying in May and June and again in August and September. It flies by day as well as at night. Widely distributed and quite common through most 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 Chiasmia clathrata: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latticed heath.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometer Moths)
- Subfamily
- Ennominae
- Tribe
- Macariini
- Genus
- Chiasmia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It occurs in a range of open habitats, including moorland, grassland and waste ground.
Seasonal Activity
There are usually two generations, especially in the south, flying in May and June and again in August and September. It flies by day as well as at night.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Lucerne and Clover.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widely distributed and quite common through most 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 Chiasmia clathrata. 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 Latticed Heath (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Latticed Heath
What is Latticed Heath?
Latticed Heath (Chiasmia clathrata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Latticed Heath found?
Habitat: It occurs in a range of open habitats, including moorland, grassland and waste ground.
When is Latticed Heath active?
Latticed Heath: seasonal activity - There are usually two generations, especially in the south, flying in May and June and again in August and September. It flies by day as well as at night..
What is the life cycle of a Latticed Heath?
The larvae feed on Lucerne and Clover.