Ling Owlet
Scythris empetrella
Scythris empetrella is a moth of the family Scythrididae described by Ole Karsholt and Ebbe Nielsen in 1976 and found in Europe.
9
Countries
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Scythrididae
Genus
Scythris
Ling Owlet belongs to the family Scythrididae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Scythris empetrella is a moth of the family Scythrididae described by Ole Karsholt and Ebbe Nielsen in 1976 and found in Europe.
The Ling Owlet faces severe population declines due to habitat loss from deforestation and agricultural expansion across its limited range. Climate change is altering the specific microhabitat conditions this specialized moth requires, while light pollution disrupts its nocturnal behavior patterns and reproductive cycles.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits heathlands, moorlands, and bog margins where crowberry (Empetrum) grows, typically in northern European montane and subarctic environments. This specialized moth is closely associated with Empetrum-dominated plant communities in acidic, nutrient-poor soils at elevations ranging from sea level to montane zones.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Ling Owlet faces severe population declines due to habitat loss from deforestation and agricultural expansion across its limited range. Climate change is altering the specific microhabitat conditions this specialized moth requires, while light pollution disrupts its nocturnal behavior patterns and reproductive cycles.
Agricultural intensification
Climate change impacts on microhabitat
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Loss of host plant species
Light pollution affecting nocturnal behavior
Found in 9 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). Ling Owlet (Scythris empetrella). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/ling-owlet