The Nutmeg
Anarta trifolii
This record describes Anarta trifolii (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 30-35 mm. This moth has a finely variegated patterning of sandy and darker browns and greys. It also has quite a large kidney mark and the half near the trailing edge is always darker than the ground colour. It inhabits waste ground, agricultural land and a range of other habitats. It has two broods in the South, one in the North, with moths appearing between May and September. The pricipal larval foodplants are Orache and Goosefoot. Occurring most commonly in the South-East of England, its range stretches Northwards, locally through Northern England and Wales, to Scotland, where it is quite scarce. Occasional migrants appear, which are thought to be the source of some far Northern records. 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
- Hadenini
- Genus
- Anarta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It inhabits waste ground, agricultural land and a range of other habitats.
Seasonal Activity
It has two broods in the South, one in the North, with moths appearing between May and September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The pricipal larval foodplants are Orache and Goosefoot.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Occurring most commonly in the South-East of England, its range stretches Northwards, locally through Northern England and Wales, to Scotland, where it is quite scarce. Occasional migrants appear, which are thought to be the source of some far Northern records. 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 Anarta trifolii. 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 The Nutmeg (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About The Nutmeg
What is The Nutmeg?
The Nutmeg (Anarta trifolii) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is The Nutmeg found?
Habitat: It inhabits waste ground, agricultural land and a range of other habitats.
When is The Nutmeg active?
The Nutmeg: seasonal activity - It has two broods in the South, one in the North, with moths appearing between May and September..
What is the life cycle of a The Nutmeg?
The pricipal larval foodplants are Orache and Goosefoot.