Scoliopteryx

Caves, mines, and similar subterranean environments. The herald moth (S. libatrix) overwinters in cave entrance areas, roosting on ceilings in healthy populations; infected individuals have been observed on cave floors and rock ledges.

Europe (Denmark, Norway, Sweden), British Isles (southern England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland), and North America (Vermont, USA). Specific records from caves and mines in Devon, Norfolk, Fermanagh, and Sligo.

Adults overwinter in caves and mines; active period likely spring through autumn based on hibernation pattern.

Overwinters as adults in caves and mines; hibernation occurs in shared hibernacula with insectivorous bats.

Troglophilic; forms overwintering aggregations on cave ceilings. Exhibits acoustic sensitivity to ultrasound (20–40 kHz) overlapping with bat echolocation frequencies, though stationary individuals do not show avoidance responses to ultrasonic pulses. This reduced behavioral response during hibernation contrasts with typical anti-predator flight reactions in active noctuid moths.

Serves as host for entomopathogenic fungi including Samsoniella scoliopterygis. Participates in cave ecosystem as a troglophilic invertebrate; co-occurs with hibernating bats, potentially influencing predator-prey dynamics in subterranean environments.

• cave-dwelling
• overwintering
• acoustic ecology
• entomopathogenic fungi
• troglophilic

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Acoustic responsiveness of Scoliopteryx libatrix L. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a moth that shares hibernacula with some insectivorous bats
• A new species of Samsoniella (Cordycipitaceae: Hypocreales) on the herald moth, Scoliopteryx libatrix (Erebidae: Noctuoidea), from caves in the British Isles