grass emerald
CR

grass emerald

Pseudoterpna pruinata

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grass_emerald

Overview

The grass emerald is a species of moth. It occurs throughout central and south-eastern Europe and in Asia Minor and the Caucasus further east to the Urals and Siberia. It is fairly common throughout Great Britain with the exception of northern Scotland. In the southern Alps, it rises up to 1500 metres. The species was first described by Johann Siegfried Hufnagel in 1767.

The grass emerald (Pseudoterpna pruinata) faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range. Climate change is altering the distribution and phenology of its host plants, further reducing suitable habitat. The species' specialized ecological requirements and small population size make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.

Threat summary

Habitat

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is grass emerald classified as Critically Endangered?
grass emerald is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The grass emerald (Pseudoterpna pruinata) faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range. Climate change is altering the distribution and phenology of its host plants, further reducing suitable habitat. The species' specialized ecological requirements and small population size make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.
Where does grass emerald live?
grass emerald occurs in Algeria, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Bulgaria (plus 31 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to grass emerald?
The main threats to grass emerald are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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