Small Waved Umber
Horisme vitalbata
This record describes Horisme vitalbata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Inhabiting woodland margins, hedgerows and chalk downs where Travellers-joy is present. There are two generations of this moth during the year, flying in May and June and again in August. The larval foodplant is Traveller's-joy. It is distributed mainly in the south of England and south Wales. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Geometridae
- Genus
- Horisme
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Inhabiting woodland margins, hedgerows and chalk downs where Travellers-joy is present.
Seasonal Activity
There are two generations of this moth during the year, flying in May and June and again in August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larval foodplant is Traveller's-joy.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is distributed mainly in the south of England and south Wales. 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 Horisme vitalbata. 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 Waved Umber (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Small Waved Umber
What is Small Waved Umber?
Small Waved Umber (Horisme vitalbata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Small Waved Umber found?
Habitat: Inhabiting woodland margins, hedgerows and chalk downs where Travellers-joy is present.
When is Small Waved Umber active?
Small Waved Umber: seasonal activity - There are two generations of this moth during the year, flying in May and June and again in August..
What is the life cycle of a Small Waved Umber?
The larval foodplant is Traveller's-joy.