Red Sword-grass
Xylena vetusta
This record describes Xylena vetusta (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 50 to 57 mm. A large species, which rests with the wings furled tightly around the abdomen, tapering to a point. Damp woodland, mountain moorland and marshy places. The flight period is September and October, after which it hibernates, appearing again in March and April. The larvae feed on a wide range of deciduous trees and shrubs, and low plants. It has a predominantly southern and western distribution, but is scattered locally to the north of Scotland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Xylena
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Damp woodland, mountain moorland and marshy places.
Seasonal Activity
The flight period is September and October, after which it hibernates, appearing again in March and April.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a wide range of deciduous trees and shrubs, and low plants.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It has a predominantly southern and western distribution, but is scattered locally to the north of Scotland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Xylena vetusta. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Red Sword-grass
What is Red Sword-grass?
Red Sword-grass (Xylena vetusta) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Red Sword-grass found?
Habitat: Damp woodland, mountain moorland and marshy places.
When is Red Sword-grass active?
Red Sword-grass: seasonal activity - The flight period is September and October, after which it hibernates, appearing again in March and April..
What is the life cycle of a Red Sword-grass?
The larvae feed on a wide range of deciduous trees and shrubs, and low plants.