Rosy Rustic
Hydraecia micacea
This record describes Hydraecia micacea (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 28 to 45 mm. This species has a wide variation both in colour and size. Frequents waste ground, marshy areas, and other places where the foodplants such as Docks grow. It is on the wing from August to October The larvae live on a range of low plants, but especially Dock, feeding beneath the ground on the roots. Common and widespread throughout the British Isles. 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
- Apameini
- Genus
- Hydraecia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Frequents waste ground, marshy areas, and other places where the foodplants such as Docks grow.
Seasonal Activity
It is on the wing from August to October
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae live on a range of low plants, but especially Dock, feeding beneath the ground on the roots.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Common and widespread throughout the British Isles. 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 Hydraecia micacea. 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 Rosy Rustic (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Rosy Rustic
What is Rosy Rustic?
Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Rosy Rustic found?
Habitat: Frequents waste ground, marshy areas, and other places where the foodplants such as Docks grow.
When is Rosy Rustic active?
Rosy Rustic: seasonal activity - It is on the wing from August to October.
What is the life cycle of a Rosy Rustic?
The larvae live on a range of low plants, but especially Dock, feeding beneath the ground on the roots.