Mottled Rustic
Caradrina morpheus
This record describes Caradrina morpheus (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 32-38 mm. Although superficially similar to several related species, this moth always shows a distinctly large and dark reniform stigma and is fairly broad-winged. It occupies a range of habitats including suburban areas It flies from June to August, sometimes with a small second brood in October in the south and is frequent at light. The larvae feed on a number of herbaceous plants, especially Nettle and Dandelion. Common to abundant in much of England and Wales, scarcer in Scotland and Ireland. 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 (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Caradrinini
- Genus
- Caradrina
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It occupies a range of habitats including suburban areas
Seasonal Activity
It flies from June to August, sometimes with a small second brood in October in the south and is frequent at light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a number of herbaceous plants, especially Nettle and Dandelion.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Common to abundant in much of England and Wales, scarcer in Scotland and Ireland. 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 Caradrina morpheus. 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 Mottled Rustic (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Mottled Rustic
What is Mottled Rustic?
Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Mottled Rustic found?
Habitat: It occupies a range of habitats including suburban areas
When is Mottled Rustic active?
Mottled Rustic: seasonal activity - It flies from June to August, sometimes with a small second brood in October in the south and is frequent at light..
What is the life cycle of a Mottled Rustic?
The larvae feed on a number of herbaceous plants, especially Nettle and Dandelion.