Shaded Broad-bar
Scotopteryx chenopodiata
This record describes Scotopteryx chenopodiata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 25-30 mm. Variable in colour but fairly easily identified. Grassland, acid heathland, woodland rides, roadside verges, sand-dunes and gardens. The species has one generation, the adults flying in July and August. Widespread and fairly common throughout Britain. 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
- Family
- Geometridae
- Genus
- Scotopteryx
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Grassland, acid heathland, woodland rides, roadside verges, sand-dunes and gardens.
Seasonal Activity
The species has one generation, the adults flying in July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Vetch and Clover.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread and fairly common throughout Britain. 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 Scotopteryx chenopodiata. 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 Shaded Broad-bar (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Shaded Broad-bar
What is Shaded Broad-bar?
Shaded Broad-bar (Scotopteryx chenopodiata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Shaded Broad-bar found?
Habitat: Grassland, acid heathland, woodland rides, roadside verges, sand-dunes and gardens.
When is Shaded Broad-bar active?
Shaded Broad-bar: seasonal activity - The species has one generation, the adults flying in July and August..
What is the life cycle of a Shaded Broad-bar?
The larvae feed on Vetch and Clover.