The Tissue
Triphosa dubitata
This record describes Triphosa dubitata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 38 to 48 mm. This moth has a slightly glossy appearance to the upperside, and often has a purplish tinge. The preferred habitats are woodland, heathland, chalk and limestone areas, and open bushy places. The adults fly in August and September, overwintering in this stage, reappearing in April and May. The larvae live on Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn. It is locally distributed over the southern half of Britain, becoming rarer further north. 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
- Geometridae
- Genus
- Triphosa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
The preferred habitats are woodland, heathland, chalk and limestone areas, and open bushy places.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in August and September, overwintering in this stage, reappearing in April and May.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae live on Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is locally distributed over the southern half of Britain, becoming rarer further north. 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 Triphosa dubitata. 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 Tissue (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About The Tissue
What is The Tissue?
The Tissue (Triphosa dubitata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is The Tissue found?
Habitat: The preferred habitats are woodland, heathland, chalk and limestone areas, and open bushy places.
When is The Tissue active?
The Tissue: seasonal activity - The adults fly in August and September, overwintering in this stage, reappearing in April and May..
What is the life cycle of a The Tissue?
The larvae live on Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn.