Rusty-dot Pearl
Udea ferrugalis
This record describes Udea ferrugalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 18 to 22 mm. The rusty orange ground colour and blackish markings on the forewing help to identify this species. Like several of its congeners, it shows distinctively whitish legs. Can occur at almost any time of the year, sometimes in large influxes with other migrants. The adult flies at night and comes to light. In Britain this moth is mainly a migrant species. Occurring over much of Britain in varying numbers as a migrant species. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Migrant.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Crambidae
- Genus
- Udea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Seasonal Activity
Can occur at almost any time of the year, sometimes in large influxes with other migrants. The adult flies at night and comes to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
In Britain this moth is mainly a migrant species.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Occurring over much of Britain in varying numbers as a migrant species. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Migrant.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Udea ferrugalis. 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 Rusty-dot Pearl (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Rusty-dot Pearl
What is Rusty-dot Pearl?
Rusty-dot Pearl (Udea ferrugalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
When is Rusty-dot Pearl active?
Rusty-dot Pearl: seasonal activity - Can occur at almost any time of the year, sometimes in large influxes with other migrants. The adult flies at night and comes to light..
What is the life cycle of a Rusty-dot Pearl?
In Britain this moth is mainly a migrant species.