Lead-coloured Drab

Orthosia populeti

This record describes Orthosia populeti (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Wingspan 34 to 40 mm. Can be rather similar to the Clouded Drab, but usually smaller with a more rounded termen. There are also subtle differences in the hindwing. The antennae of male Lead-coloured Drabs are much more obviously feathered than the antennae of male Clouded Drabs. Aspen is the main foodplant, the larvae feeding at first on the catkins, and later between spun leaves. Locally distributed in England and Wales and central Scotland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Orthosia

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Habitat

Areas containing Aspen.

Seasonal Activity

The species flies in early April.

Diet and Behavior

Life History

Aspen is the main foodplant, the larvae feeding at first on the catkins, and later between spun leaves.

Additional species information

Recorded status

Locally distributed in England and Wales and central Scotland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Orthosia populeti. 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.

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