Small Scallop
Idaea emarginata
This record describes Idaea emarginata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 22 to 25 mm. This is a fairly distinctive moth. A good photograph is generally required to support your record. Occupying damp deciduous woodland, meadows and marshes. It flies between June and August after dark, when it can be attracted to light, but it can also be flushed in the daytime. The caterpillar is brownish and believed to feed on Bedstraw (Galium) in the wild, though in captivity it can be reared on a number of plants, preferring withered leaves. Occurs widely but never commonly in England and Wales. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Geometridae
- Genus
- Idaea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occupying damp deciduous woodland, meadows and marshes.
Seasonal Activity
It flies between June and August after dark, when it can be attracted to light, but it can also be flushed in the daytime.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The caterpillar is brownish and believed to feed on Bedstraw (Galium) in the wild, though in captivity it can be reared on a number of plants, preferring withered leaves.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Occurs widely but never commonly in England and Wales. 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 Idaea emarginata. 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 Scallop (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Small Scallop
What is Small Scallop?
Small Scallop (Idaea emarginata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Small Scallop found?
Habitat: Occupying damp deciduous woodland, meadows and marshes.
When is Small Scallop active?
Small Scallop: seasonal activity - It flies between June and August after dark, when it can be attracted to light, but it can also be flushed in the daytime..
What is the life cycle of a Small Scallop?
The caterpillar is brownish and believed to feed on Bedstraw (Galium) in the wild, though in captivity it can be reared on a number of plants, preferring withered leaves.