Purple Bar
Cosmorhoe ocellata
This record describes Cosmorhoe ocellata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 20 to 25 mm. This smallish member of the 'carpets' has a velvety look to the forewings. It flies from May to August, usually with two generations in the south, but a single brood further north. The larvae feed on various types of bedstraw. It is fairly common throughout Britain, and is regularly attracted to light. 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
- Cosmorhoe
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Areas where bedstraws are present.
Seasonal Activity
It flies from May to August, usually with two generations in the south, but a single brood further north.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on various types of bedstraw.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is fairly common throughout Britain, and is regularly attracted to light. 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 Cosmorhoe ocellata. 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 Purple Bar (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Purple Bar
What is Purple Bar?
Purple Bar (Cosmorhoe ocellata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Purple Bar found?
Habitat: Areas where bedstraws are present.
When is Purple Bar active?
Purple Bar: seasonal activity - It flies from May to August, usually with two generations in the south, but a single brood further north..
What is the life cycle of a Purple Bar?
The larvae feed on various types of bedstraw.