Marbled Coronet
Hadena confusa
This record describes Hadena confusa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 33 to 39 mm. The species varies from a very black-and-white form to an almost all brown variety, occurring in Shetland. Preferring chalky soils and shingle beaches. The adults fly in May and June, sometimes with a partial second generation in the south-east of England. The larvae feed on the seeds of Bladder-campion, and other Silene species. Locally widespread over a large part of the British Isles. 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
- Hadena
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Preferring chalky soils and shingle beaches.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in May and June, sometimes with a partial second generation in the south-east of England.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on the seeds of Bladder-campion, and other Silene species.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Locally widespread over a large part of the British Isles. 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 Hadena confusa. 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 Marbled Coronet
What is Marbled Coronet?
Marbled Coronet (Hadena confusa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Marbled Coronet found?
Habitat: Preferring chalky soils and shingle beaches.
When is Marbled Coronet active?
Marbled Coronet: seasonal activity - The adults fly in May and June, sometimes with a partial second generation in the south-east of England..
What is the life cycle of a Marbled Coronet?
The larvae feed on the seeds of Bladder-campion, and other Silene species.