Scarce Silver-lines
Bena bicolorana
This record describes Bena bicolorana (species). Recorded family: Nolidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 40 to 45 mm. Possibly our most immaculate-looking moth when fresh, this is one of the few green species in Britain, and one of the brightest. Flying from June to August, it regularly visits light. The caterpillars feed on the leaves of oak. It is distributed widely in England and Wales, as far north as Yorkshire, being locally common in places. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
Wikipedia reference for Bena bicolorana: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bena bicolorana.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Nolidae (Tufted Moths)
- Subfamily
- Chloephorinae
- Tribe
- Sarrothripini
- Genus
- Bena
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It inhabits woodland and parkland.
Seasonal Activity
Flying from June to August, it regularly visits light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The caterpillars feed on the leaves of oak.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is distributed widely in England and Wales, as far north as Yorkshire, being locally common in places. 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 Bena bicolorana. 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 Silver-lines (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Scarce Silver-lines
What is Scarce Silver-lines?
Scarce Silver-lines (Bena bicolorana) is a species in the family Nolidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Scarce Silver-lines found?
Habitat: It inhabits woodland and parkland.
When is Scarce Silver-lines active?
Scarce Silver-lines: seasonal activity - Flying from June to August, it regularly visits light..
What is the life cycle of a Scarce Silver-lines?
The caterpillars feed on the leaves of oak.