Tawny Shears
Hadena perplexa
This record describes Hadena perplexa (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 27 to 36 mm. There is quite a range of variation in the ground colour and marking intensity, with paler specimens in the south-east and darker or duller ones in the north and west. Inhabiting dry grassy or stony habitats such as chalk downland and shingle beaches. The moths fly in May and June, sometimes again in autumn in the south. The larvae feed on the seeds of various campions (Silene spp.). This species is fairly well distributed across England and Wales and into the south of Scotland. 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
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Hadena
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Inhabiting dry grassy or stony habitats such as chalk downland and shingle beaches.
Seasonal Activity
The moths fly in May and June, sometimes again in autumn in the south.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on the seeds of various campions (Silene spp.).
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species is fairly well distributed across England and Wales and into the south of Scotland. 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 Hadena perplexa. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tawny Shears
What is Tawny Shears?
Tawny Shears (Hadena perplexa) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Tawny Shears found?
Habitat: Inhabiting dry grassy or stony habitats such as chalk downland and shingle beaches.
When is Tawny Shears active?
Tawny Shears: seasonal activity - The moths fly in May and June, sometimes again in autumn in the south..
What is the life cycle of a Tawny Shears?
The larvae feed on the seeds of various campions (Silene spp.).