Yellow Shell
Camptogramma bilineata
This record describes Camptogramma bilineata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 20-25 mm. A very variable species with examples ranging from bright yellow through to dark brown and also variable in size. Four different subspecies occur, with the smaller and darker ones frequenting rocky places in northern Scotland and Ireland. Occupies a range of habitats but with a preference for damper areas. It has one generation, flying from June through to August. The larvae feed on a variety of low-growing plants, including Chickweed and Sorrel. It is quite common throughout Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Camptogramma bilineata: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camptogramma bilineata.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometer Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Xanthorhoini
- Genus
- Camptogramma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occupies a range of habitats but with a preference for damper areas.
Seasonal Activity
It has one generation, flying from June through to August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a variety of low-growing plants, including Chickweed and Sorrel.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is quite common throughout Britain. 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 Camptogramma bilineata. 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 Yellow Shell (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Yellow Shell
What is Yellow Shell?
Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Yellow Shell found?
Habitat: Occupies a range of habitats but with a preference for damper areas.
When is Yellow Shell active?
Yellow Shell: seasonal activity - It has one generation, flying from June through to August..
What is the life cycle of a Yellow Shell?
The larvae feed on a variety of low-growing plants, including Chickweed and Sorrel.