Light Emerald
Campaea margaritaria
This record describes Campaea margaritaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 30-40 mm. An attractive pale-green species, which has a blood-red tip to the forewing, sometimes extending as a line along the outer edge of both fore and hindwings. Broad-leaved woodland, areas with scattered trees, scrub, hedgerows, parks and gardens. Flies from June to August, often with a partial second generation in the South, appearing in August and September. The larvae live on the foliage of a number of deciduous trees. It is quite commonly distributed throughout most of the British Isles. 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
- Geometridae
- Genus
- Campaea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Broad-leaved woodland, areas with scattered trees, scrub, hedgerows, parks and gardens.
Seasonal Activity
Flies from June to August, often with a partial second generation in the South, appearing in August and September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae live on the foliage of a number of deciduous trees.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is quite commonly distributed throughout most of the British Isles. 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 Campaea margaritaria. 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 Emerald (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Light Emerald
What is Light Emerald?
Light Emerald (Campaea margaritaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Light Emerald found?
Habitat: Broad-leaved woodland, areas with scattered trees, scrub, hedgerows, parks and gardens.
When is Light Emerald active?
Light Emerald: seasonal activity - Flies from June to August, often with a partial second generation in the South, appearing in August and September..
What is the life cycle of a Light Emerald?
The larvae live on the foliage of a number of deciduous trees.