Mother Of Pearl
Patania ruralis
This record describes Patania ruralis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 26-40 mm. One of the largest of Britain's so-called 'micro-moths'; in fact it is larger than many of the 'macro-moths', though this division is largely artificial. The moth rests with all four wings on display, which show a colourful rainbow-like lustre in certain lighting conditions, as the English name suggests. Rural gardens, waste ground and rough pastures often around Nettle beds. July and August. The adults fly from dusk onwards and are often attracted to light. The larvae feed on Nettle, in a rolled-up leaf. Common throughout most of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Patania ruralis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patania_ruralis.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Spilomelinae
- Tribe
- Agroterini
- Genus
- Patania
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Rural gardens, waste ground and rough pastures often around Nettle beds.
Seasonal Activity
July and August. The adults fly from dusk onwards and are often attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Nettle, in a rolled-up leaf.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Common throughout most of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Patania ruralis. 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 Mother Of Pearl (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Mother Of Pearl
What is Mother Of Pearl?
Mother Of Pearl (Patania ruralis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Mother Of Pearl found?
Habitat: Rural gardens, waste ground and rough pastures often around Nettle beds.
When is Mother Of Pearl active?
Mother Of Pearl: seasonal activity - July and August. The adults fly from dusk onwards and are often attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Mother Of Pearl?
The larvae feed on Nettle, in a rolled-up leaf.