Large Ear
EN

Large Ear

Amphipoea lucens

Unknown

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

Overview

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.

Threat summary

Other threatened species in Noctuidae

Tawny ShearsVU

Tawny Shears

Hadena perplexa

Unknown
Noctuelle gris-de-lin (La)VU

Noctuelle gris-de-lin (La)

Epilecta linogrisea

Unknown
White-spotted PinionVU

White-spotted Pinion

Cosmia diffinis

Unknown
Sweet Gale MothVU

Sweet Gale Moth

Acronicta cinerea

Unknown

Threatened in Åland Islands

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
VU

Syndyas nigripes

Unknown
Chrysotus cupreusCR

Chrysotus cupreus

Unknown
VU

narulukkokiiluri

Syntormon filiger

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Large Ear classified as Endangered?
Large Ear is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. 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.
Where does Large Ear live?
Large Ear occurs in Åland Islands, Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, and France (plus 21 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 Large Ear?
The main threats to Large Ear 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.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.