Light Knot Grass
Acronicta menyanthidis
This record describes Acronicta menyanthidis (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required. If the photo doesn't show the key ID features then in the comments box describe the size and identifying characters you have observed. A species of acid moorland and damp heathland. The moths are on the wing between May and July when they can be found resting exposed on fenceposts and rocks. At night they will come to light. The caterpillar is blackish-brown with a red spiracular line dotted with white. It feeds on a number of moorland plants including Bog Myrtle and Bilberry. Distributed over northern England, Wales, Scotland and parts of Ireland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Acronicta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
A species of acid moorland and damp heathland.
Seasonal Activity
The moths are on the wing between May and July when they can be found resting exposed on fenceposts and rocks. At night they will come to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The caterpillar is blackish-brown with a red spiracular line dotted with white. It feeds on a number of moorland plants including Bog Myrtle and Bilberry.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Distributed over northern England, Wales, Scotland and parts of Ireland. 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 Acronicta menyanthidis. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Light Knot Grass
What is Light Knot Grass?
Light Knot Grass (Acronicta menyanthidis) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Light Knot Grass found?
Habitat: A species of acid moorland and damp heathland.
When is Light Knot Grass active?
Light Knot Grass: seasonal activity - The moths are on the wing between May and July when they can be found resting exposed on fenceposts and rocks. At night they will come to light..
What is the life cycle of a Light Knot Grass?
The caterpillar is blackish-brown with a red spiracular line dotted with white. It feeds on a number of moorland plants including Bog Myrtle and Bilberry.