Varied Coronet
Hadena compta
This record describes Hadena compta (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 25-30 mm. Bold black and white forewing with cross band complete and meeting trailing edge about halfway along (not diagonal as in Marbled Coronet). The main flight period is from June to July, when the species comes to light. The main foodplant is Sweet William ( Dianthus barbatus ), and as a result it is often common in gardens, but it also feeds on Bladder Campion, in both cases consuming the seeds. It overwinters as a pupa. An adventive colonist, being relatively unknown in the British Isles until the late 1940's when it started to appear in numbers in the south-east. Since then it has spread rapidly and now can be found as far north as Lincolnshire. 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
- Noctuidae
- Genus
- Hadena
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Calcareous grassland and gardens.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period is from June to July, when the species comes to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The main foodplant is Sweet William (
Additional species information
Recorded status
An adventive colonist, being relatively unknown in the British Isles until the late 1940's when it started to appear in numbers in the south-east. Since then it has spread rapidly and now can be found as far north as Lincolnshire. 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 compta. 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 Varied Coronet (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Varied Coronet
What is Varied Coronet?
Varied Coronet (Hadena compta) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Varied Coronet found?
Habitat: Calcareous grassland and gardens.
When is Varied Coronet active?
Varied Coronet: seasonal activity - The main flight period is from June to July, when the species comes to light..
What is the life cycle of a Varied Coronet?
The main foodplant is Sweet William (