Small China-mark
Cataclysta lemnata
This record describes Cataclysta lemnata (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 18-24 mm. The males of this species are slightly smaller and whiter than the females but both sexes have a distinctive row of blue-centred black dots on the hindwing. The adults are on the wing between June and August, when the females in particular come to light. The larvae are semi-aquatic, feeding on Duckweed. They build floating cases made from fragments of the foodplant. It is fairly common throughout Britain and Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Crambidae
- Genus
- Cataclysta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around still or slow-moving water.
Seasonal Activity
The adults are on the wing between June and August, when the females in particular come to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae are semi-aquatic, feeding on Duckweed. They build floating cases made from fragments of the foodplant.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is fairly common throughout Britain and Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cataclysta lemnata. 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 China-mark (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Small China-mark
What is Small China-mark?
Small China-mark (Cataclysta lemnata) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Small China-mark found?
Habitat: Around still or slow-moving water.
When is Small China-mark active?
Small China-mark: seasonal activity - The adults are on the wing between June and August, when the females in particular come to light..
What is the life cycle of a Small China-mark?
The larvae are semi-aquatic, feeding on Duckweed. They build floating cases made from fragments of the foodplant.