The Sycamore
Acronicta aceris
This record describes Acronicta aceris (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 35-45 mm. Like several other Acronicta species, the ground colour varies from pale grey to dark sooty-grey. The brightly-coloured caterpillar is covered with yellow and orange hairs and has a row of black-edged white blotches along the back. It feeds on Horse-chestnut as well as Sycamore and Field Maple. The species is distributed mainly in the south-eastern counties of England, with scattered records elsewhere. 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
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Acronicta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Parks, gardens, woodland and scrub.
Seasonal Activity
June and July
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The brightly-coloured caterpillar is covered with yellow and orange hairs and has a row of black-edged white blotches along the back. It feeds on Horse-chestnut as well as Sycamore and Field Maple.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The species is distributed mainly in the south-eastern counties of England, with scattered records elsewhere. 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 Acronicta aceris. 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 Sycamore (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About The Sycamore
What is The Sycamore?
The Sycamore (Acronicta aceris) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is The Sycamore found?
Habitat: Parks, gardens, woodland and scrub.
When is The Sycamore active?
The Sycamore: seasonal activity - June and July.
What is the life cycle of a The Sycamore?
The brightly-coloured caterpillar is covered with yellow and orange hairs and has a row of black-edged white blotches along the back. It feeds on Horse-chestnut as well as Sycamore and Field Maple.