Tawny Pinion
Lithophane semibrunnea
This record describes Lithophane semibrunnea (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 40 to 44 mm. Mainly tawny brown generally paler and more straw coloured toward the leading edge of the wing, but with a blackish bar running parallel with the trailing edge. The preferred habitats are open woodland and marshy places. The species flies late in the autumn, in October and November, and then hibernates, reappearing in April and May. Distributed sparsely in the southern part of England and Wales, occasionally reaching northwards to the northern counties. 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
- Lithophane
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
The preferred habitats are open woodland and marshy places.
Seasonal Activity
The species flies late in the autumn, in October and November, and then hibernates, reappearing in April and May.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed mainly on Ash.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Distributed sparsely in the southern part of England and Wales, occasionally reaching northwards to the northern counties. 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 Lithophane semibrunnea. 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 Pinion (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Tawny Pinion
What is Tawny Pinion?
Tawny Pinion (Lithophane semibrunnea) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Tawny Pinion found?
Habitat: The preferred habitats are open woodland and marshy places.
When is Tawny Pinion active?
Tawny Pinion: seasonal activity - The species flies late in the autumn, in October and November, and then hibernates, reappearing in April and May..
What is the life cycle of a Tawny Pinion?
The larvae feed mainly on Ash.