Red Chestnut
Cerastis rubricosa
This record describes Cerastis rubricosa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 32 to 38 mm. The ground colour is a uniform rich pale or dark reddish brown or purplish brown. The markings are often quite pale. Occupying mainly woodland in the south, and wet moorland in the north. This is a spring flying species, appearing in the first warm days of March and April. The larvae feed nocturnally in late spring on several herbaceous plants such as groundsel and bedstraw. It is fairly common and widely distributed in Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Cerastis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occupying mainly woodland in the south, and wet moorland in the north.
Seasonal Activity
This is a spring flying species, appearing in the first warm days of March and April.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed nocturnally in late spring on several herbaceous plants such as groundsel and bedstraw.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is fairly common and widely distributed in Britain. 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 Cerastis rubricosa. 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 Red Chestnut (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Red Chestnut
What is Red Chestnut?
Red Chestnut (Cerastis rubricosa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Red Chestnut found?
Habitat: Occupying mainly woodland in the south, and wet moorland in the north.
When is Red Chestnut active?
Red Chestnut: seasonal activity - This is a spring flying species, appearing in the first warm days of March and April..
What is the life cycle of a Red Chestnut?
The larvae feed nocturnally in late spring on several herbaceous plants such as groundsel and bedstraw.