White-line snout moth  (Schrankia taenialis)

White-line snout moth

Facts

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order Lepidoptera
Family Noctuidae
Genus Schrankia (2)
Size Wingspan: 1.8- 2.4 cm (2)
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Status

Classified as Nationally Scarce (1).

Description

The White-line Snout is a small moth with brown forewings that feature two irregular black cross-lines (3). The caterpillar has not been observed in the wild (3).

Range

Before 1980, this moth was recorded in areas of England to the south of the Wash and south Wales. Since 1980 it has been found in just 30 of the former areas, but new sites have been discovered in Wales. This may be due to a decline in the species, or an artefact resulting from a lack of recording. Elsewhere the species is found in Israel, Korea, and central and western areas of Europe (1).

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network GatewayDisplay NBN Map Button

Habitat

Known from a number of habitat types; mainly damp deciduous woodlands but also open heathland (5).

Biology

A single-brooded moth, the adults are on the wing in July and early August. The caterpillars have not been observed in the wild in the UK, therefore little is known of their biology, however it seems very likely that the species spends the winter as a caterpillar (2). Thyme, cow parsley, hogweed and the flowers of heather have been suggested as the larval foodplant (1).

Threats

The causes of the poor status of the White-line Snout are not known (1).

Conservation

This moth is a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP). The Species Action Plan aims to maintain the present range of the species and establish a monitoring programme (1).

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan for this species is available at UK Biodiversity Action Plan

Authentication

Information authenticated by Adrian Spalding.

Glossary

Deciduous: of a plant that sheds its leaves at the end of the growing season.
Larval: of the stage in an animal's lifecycle after it hatches from the egg. Larvae are typically very different in appearance to adults; they are able to feed and move around but usually are unable to reproduce.
Single-brooded: (Also known as 'univoltine'). Insect life cycle that takes 12 months to be complete, and involves a single generation. The egg, larva, pupa or adult over winters as a dormant stage.

References

  1. UK BAP. Species Action Plan (December 2001):
    http://www.ukbap.org.uk
  2. Skinner, B. (1984) Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles. Viking Press, London.
  3. South, R. (1961) The moths of the British Isles. Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., London.
  4. Pers. observation from images.
  5. Spalding, A. (2003) Pers. comm.