Small Square-spot
Diarsia rubi
This record describes Diarsia rubi (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 28-33 mm. Usually a rich red shade of brown with the small back dot usually very noticeable Occurring in any suitable habitat but perhaps preferring damp and marshy places. South of Scotland, it is double-brooded, flying in May and June and again in August and September. In Scotland there is one generation, flying in July and August, when it is difficult to tell apart from the very similar and possibly conspecific, Fen Square-spot ( D. florida ). Where there are two broods, the first generation generally produces larger moths. The larval foodplants are a range of herbaceous species. A common species 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
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Diarsia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occurring in any suitable habitat but perhaps preferring damp and marshy places.
Seasonal Activity
South of Scotland, it is double-brooded, flying in May and June and again in August and September. In Scotland there is one generation, flying in July and August, when it is difficult to tell apart from the very similar and possibly conspecific, Fen Square-spot (
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Where there are two broods, the first generation generally produces larger moths. The larval foodplants are a range of herbaceous species.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A common species 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 Diarsia rubi. 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 Square-spot (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Small Square-spot
What is Small Square-spot?
Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Small Square-spot found?
Habitat: Occurring in any suitable habitat but perhaps preferring damp and marshy places.
When is Small Square-spot active?
Small Square-spot: seasonal activity - South of Scotland, it is double-brooded, flying in May and June and again in August and September. In Scotland there is one generation, flying in July and August, when it is difficult to tell apart from the very similar and possibly conspecific, Fen Square-spot (.
What is the life cycle of a Small Square-spot?
Where there are two broods, the first generation generally produces larger moths. The larval foodplants are a range of herbaceous species.