Small Angle Shades
Euplexia lucipara
This record describes Euplexia lucipara (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 27-32 mm. Has an attractive patterning of pinks, oranges and browns. Occupying woodland, parkland and suburban habitats. The adults fly in June and July, sometimes with a later generation in August and September. The species is readily attracted to light. The caterpillars feed at night on Bracken and other ferns, as well as a number of low plants and trees. Common and widespread over most of the British Isles. 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
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Euplexia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occupying woodland, parkland and suburban habitats.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in June and July, sometimes with a later generation in August and September. The species is readily attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The caterpillars feed at night on Bracken and other ferns, as well as a number of low plants and trees.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Common and widespread over most of the British Isles. 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 Euplexia lucipara. 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 Small Angle Shades (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Small Angle Shades
What is Small Angle Shades?
Small Angle Shades (Euplexia lucipara) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Small Angle Shades found?
Habitat: Occupying woodland, parkland and suburban habitats.
When is Small Angle Shades active?
Small Angle Shades: seasonal activity - The adults fly in June and July, sometimes with a later generation in August and September. The species is readily attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Small Angle Shades?
The caterpillars feed at night on Bracken and other ferns, as well as a number of low plants and trees.