Mottled Umber
Erannis defoliaria
This record describes Erannis defoliaria (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 30-40 mm. A variable species, with some strongly-banded individuals, others plain brownish with darker speckling. The females are completely wingless. It can be found in woodland, scrub, hedgerows, grassland and various other habitats. The flight period is late in the year, from October into December. Larva, formerly considered a pest, feeds on various broad-leaved trees and shrubs, including Oak, Birch, Hazel, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Apple, Dog-rose, Sycamore, Hornbeam and Elm, overwintering as an egg. It is distributed commonly over most of Britain, especially so in the south. 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
- Erannis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It can be found in woodland, scrub, hedgerows, grassland and various other habitats.
Seasonal Activity
The flight period is late in the year, from October into December.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva, formerly considered a pest, feeds on various broad-leaved trees and shrubs, including Oak, Birch, Hazel, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Apple, Dog-rose, Sycamore, Hornbeam and Elm, overwintering as an egg.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is distributed commonly over most of Britain, especially so in the south. 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 Erannis defoliaria. 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 Umber (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Mottled Umber
What is Mottled Umber?
Mottled Umber (Erannis defoliaria) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Mottled Umber found?
Habitat: It can be found in woodland, scrub, hedgerows, grassland and various other habitats.
When is Mottled Umber active?
Mottled Umber: seasonal activity - The flight period is late in the year, from October into December..
What is the life cycle of a Mottled Umber?
Larva, formerly considered a pest, feeds on various broad-leaved trees and shrubs, including Oak, Birch, Hazel, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Apple, Dog-rose, Sycamore, Hornbeam and Elm, overwintering as an egg.