Scallop Shell
Rheumaptera undulata
This record describes Rheumaptera undulata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 25 to 30 mm. A highly distinctive moth, unlikely to be confused with any other British species. It prefers open woodland with an undergrowth of bilberry, and marshy areas. Flies in a single generation from June to July. The larvae spin together leaves at the tips of shoots of Willow and Bilberry. It occurs locally over a large part of the British Isles as far north as southern Scotland. 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
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Hydriomenini
- Genus
- Rheumaptera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It prefers open woodland with an undergrowth of bilberry, and marshy areas.
Seasonal Activity
Flies in a single generation from June to July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae spin together leaves at the tips of shoots of Willow and Bilberry.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It occurs locally over a large part of the British Isles as far north as southern Scotland. 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 Rheumaptera undulata. 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 Scallop Shell (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Scallop Shell
What is Scallop Shell?
Scallop Shell (Rheumaptera undulata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Scallop Shell found?
Habitat: It prefers open woodland with an undergrowth of bilberry, and marshy areas.
When is Scallop Shell active?
Scallop Shell: seasonal activity - Flies in a single generation from June to July..
What is the life cycle of a Scallop Shell?
The larvae spin together leaves at the tips of shoots of Willow and Bilberry.