Scarce Bordered Straw
Helicoverpa armigera
This record describes Helicoverpa armigera (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 30-40 mm. A lightly marked reddish-brown species. Mainly seen on the coast, but occasionally inland Occurring most often in the autumn months. An immigrant species to Britain. Found as a larva from time to time on Tomato plants, Geraniums and other plants brought in from the Mediterranean region, where it can be a pest. Although mainly found around the southern coasts of England it has now been recorded from most of England and along the south coast of Wales. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as a migrant.
Wikipedia reference for Helicoverpa armigera: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicoverpa armigera.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Cutworm Moths and Allies)
- Subfamily
- Heliothinae
- Genus
- Helicoverpa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Mainly seen on the coast, but occasionally inland
Seasonal Activity
Occurring most often in the autumn months.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
An immigrant species to Britain. Found as a larva from time to time on Tomato plants, Geraniums and other plants brought in from the Mediterranean region, where it can be a pest.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Although mainly found around the southern coasts of England it has now been recorded from most of England and along the south coast of Wales. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as a migrant.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Helicoverpa armigera. 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 Scarce Bordered Straw (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Scarce Bordered Straw
What is Scarce Bordered Straw?
Scarce Bordered Straw (Helicoverpa armigera) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Scarce Bordered Straw found?
Habitat: Mainly seen on the coast, but occasionally inland
When is Scarce Bordered Straw active?
Scarce Bordered Straw: seasonal activity - Occurring most often in the autumn months..
What is the life cycle of a Scarce Bordered Straw?
An immigrant species to Britain. Found as a larva from time to time on Tomato plants, Geraniums and other plants brought in from the Mediterranean region, where it can be a pest.