Light Arches
Apamea lithoxylaea
This record describes Apamea lithoxylaea (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 43-50 mm. Has a pale and rather ragged appearance. It inhabits dry pastures and similarly grassy places The flight period is between June and August, this species responds to light to a certain extent , but is more frequent at sugar The larvae feed on a number of grasses, on the stems and roots. Fairly common throughout most 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
- Apamea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It inhabits dry pastures and similarly grassy places
Seasonal Activity
The flight period is between June and August, this species responds to light to a certain extent , but is more frequent at sugar
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a number of grasses, on the stems and roots.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly common throughout 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 Apamea lithoxylaea. 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 Light Arches (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Light Arches
What is Light Arches?
Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Light Arches found?
Habitat: It inhabits dry pastures and similarly grassy places
When is Light Arches active?
Light Arches: seasonal activity - The flight period is between June and August, this species responds to light to a certain extent , but is more frequent at sugar.
What is the life cycle of a Light Arches?
The larvae feed on a number of grasses, on the stems and roots.