Chinese Character
Cilix glaucata
Cilix glaucata, the Chinese character, is a moth of the family Drepanidae. It was first described by the Italian physician and naturalist, Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in his 1763 Entomologia Carniolica.
42
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cilix_glaucata
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Drepanidae
Genus
Cilix
Chinese Character belongs to the family Drepanidae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Cilix glaucata, the Chinese character, is a moth of the family Drepanidae. It was first described by the Italian physician and naturalist, Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in his 1763 Entomologia Carniolica. It is found in Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa.
The Chinese Character moth faces significant population pressures from habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and urban development, which reduces the availability of its host plants including hawthorn, blackthorn, and other Rosaceae species. Climate change and increased pesticide use in agricultural areas further threaten remaining populations across its range.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits woodland edges, hedgerows, parks, gardens, and scrubland where host plants from the Rosaceae family occur, particularly areas with hawthorn, blackthorn, and wild cherry. Shows preference for semi-natural habitats with mixed vegetation structure from lowland to moderate elevations.
Threats
Agricultural intensification
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Climate change impacts
Loss of host plant species
Pesticide use
Found in 42 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Chinese Character (Cilix glaucata). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/chinese-character