Small Dotted Buff
Photedes minima
This record describes Photedes minima (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 20-23 mm. The females are smaller than the males and are more well-marked; the males are plain buffish with darker dots along the veins and often show a slight glossy sheen. Occupying marshy localities, damp woodland and similar habitats. The moths fly from June to August in a single brood. The larvae feed on the stems of Tufted Hair-grass ( Deschampsia cespitosa ). A fairly common species over much 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
- Photedes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occupying marshy localities, damp woodland and similar habitats.
Seasonal Activity
The moths fly from June to August in a single brood.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on the stems of Tufted Hair-grass (
Additional species information
Recorded status
A fairly common species over much 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 Photedes minima. 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 Dotted Buff (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Small Dotted Buff
What is Small Dotted Buff?
Small Dotted Buff (Photedes minima) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Small Dotted Buff found?
Habitat: Occupying marshy localities, damp woodland and similar habitats.
When is Small Dotted Buff active?
Small Dotted Buff: seasonal activity - The moths fly from June to August in a single brood..
What is the life cycle of a Small Dotted Buff?
The larvae feed on the stems of Tufted Hair-grass (