Toadflax Brocade
Calophasia lunula
This record describes Calophasia lunula (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
It has two generations, sometimes overlapping, from May to August, and migrants sometimes appear away from the main stronghold in July and August. The larvae, which feed on Toadflax and related species (Linaria spp.), are very colourful, but well camouflaged amongst the foodplant. As a resident species, this moth was restricted to the south-east and central southern coasts of England, where it frequented mainly shingle beaches. It is a relatively recent colonist, arriving around 1950 and quickly gaining a foothold, but after a decline which led to it being classified as Red Data Book 3, it appears to be expanding again. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Oncocnemidinae
- Genus
- Calophasia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Areas where Toadflax is found.
Seasonal Activity
It has two generations, sometimes overlapping, from May to August, and migrants sometimes appear away from the main stronghold in July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae, which feed on Toadflax and related species (Linaria spp.), are very colourful, but well camouflaged amongst the foodplant.
Additional species information
Recorded status
As a resident species, this moth was restricted to the south-east and central southern coasts of England, where it frequented mainly shingle beaches. It is a relatively recent colonist, arriving around 1950 and quickly gaining a foothold, but after a decline which led to it being classified as Red Data Book 3, it appears to be expanding again.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Calophasia lunula. 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 Toadflax Brocade (4)
Frequently Asked Questions About Toadflax Brocade
What is Toadflax Brocade?
Toadflax Brocade (Calophasia lunula) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Toadflax Brocade found?
Habitat: Areas where Toadflax is found.
When is Toadflax Brocade active?
Toadflax Brocade: seasonal activity - It has two generations, sometimes overlapping, from May to August, and migrants sometimes appear away from the main stronghold in July and August..
What is the life cycle of a Toadflax Brocade?
The larvae, which feed on Toadflax and related species (Linaria spp.), are very colourful, but well camouflaged amongst the foodplant.