Large Ear
Amphipoea lucens
Amphipoea lucens, the large ear or large ear moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae and is found in most of Europe. It was first described, in 1845, by the German entomologist, Christian Friedrich Freyer, from a specimen, found in Berlin.
27
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphipoea_lucens
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Noctuidae
Genus
Amphipoea
Large Ear belongs to the family Noctuidae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Amphipoea lucens, the large ear or large ear moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae and is found in most of Europe. It was first described, in 1845, by the German entomologist, Christian Friedrich Freyer, from a specimen, found in Berlin. The larvae feed on the roots and stems of grasses.
The Large Ear (Amphipoea lucens) is declining primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments. Agricultural intensification, drainage of fens and marshes, and changes in water management practices have significantly reduced the availability of suitable breeding and feeding habitats for this moth species.
Key Facts
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
The Large Ear (Amphipoea lucens) is declining primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments. Agricultural intensification, drainage of fens and marshes, and changes in water management practices have significantly reduced the availability of suitable breeding and feeding habitats for this moth species.
Agricultural intensification
Drainage of wetlands and fens
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Climate change impacts on wetland hydrology
Water level management changes
Found in 27 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). Large Ear (Amphipoea lucens). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/large-ear