Tawny-barred Angle
Macaria liturata
This record describes Macaria liturata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 22-27 mm. A dark melanic form nigrofulvata is quite common, especially in the north. A species of coniferous woodland and gardens. It flies usually in June and July, but in the south there is a second brood in August. Coniferous trees form the main foodplants, especially Scots Pine. This moth is fairly common throughout most of the British Isles. 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
- Geometridae
- Genus
- Macaria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
A species of coniferous woodland and gardens.
Seasonal Activity
It flies usually in June and July, but in the south there is a second brood in August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Coniferous trees form the main foodplants, especially Scots Pine.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This moth is fairly common throughout most of the British Isles. 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 Macaria liturata. 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 Tawny-barred Angle (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Tawny-barred Angle
What is Tawny-barred Angle?
Tawny-barred Angle (Macaria liturata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Tawny-barred Angle found?
Habitat: A species of coniferous woodland and gardens.
When is Tawny-barred Angle active?
Tawny-barred Angle: seasonal activity - It flies usually in June and July, but in the south there is a second brood in August..
What is the life cycle of a Tawny-barred Angle?
Coniferous trees form the main foodplants, especially Scots Pine.