The Snout
Hypena proboscidalis
This record describes Hypena proboscidalis (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 25-38 mm. Unmistakeable because of its long 'snout'. A wide range of habitats, including woodland, scrub, hedgerows, gardens, rough meadows and marshes. This moth can often be found in numbers around dusk, flying over patches of the foodplant, Common Nettle. It is on the wing from June to August and again later in the autumn and is a common visitor to the light-trap. 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
- Erebidae
- Genus
- Hypena
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
A wide range of habitats, including woodland, scrub, hedgerows, gardens, rough meadows and marshes.
Seasonal Activity
This moth can often be found in numbers around dusk, flying over patches of the foodplant, Common Nettle. It is on the wing from June to August and again later in the autumn and is a common visitor to the light-trap.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva feeds on Nettle.
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 Hypena proboscidalis. 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 The Snout (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About The Snout
What is The Snout?
The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is The Snout found?
Habitat: A wide range of habitats, including woodland, scrub, hedgerows, gardens, rough meadows and marshes.
When is The Snout active?
The Snout: seasonal activity - This moth can often be found in numbers around dusk, flying over patches of the foodplant, Common Nettle. It is on the wing from June to August and again later in the autumn and is a common visitor to the light-trap..
What is the life cycle of a The Snout?
Larva feeds on Nettle.