Carrot Seed Moth
Sitochroa palealis
This record describes Sitochroa palealis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Color terms |
|
|---|---|
| Pattern and shape terms |
|
| Activity terms |
|
| Other recorded terms |
|
Terms from the source record, grouped for readability. Broad terms such as size or location are not measurements or a confirmed range.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Pyraustinae
- Tribe
- Pyraustini
- Genus
- Sitochroa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various habitats, especially where the larval foodplants occur.
Seasonal Activity
It flies in June and July and is attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on umbellifers, particularly Wild Carrot.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species is a local resident along the coastal areas of the south and south-east, and also an occasional migrant. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sitochroa palealis. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Carrot Seed Moth (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Carrot Seed Moth
How big is Carrot Seed Moth?
26mm to 34mm (1.02" to 1.33")
Where is Carrot Seed Moth found?
Habitat: Various habitats, especially where the larval foodplants occur.
When is Carrot Seed Moth active?
Carrot Seed Moth: seasonal activity - It flies in June and July and is attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Carrot Seed Moth?
The larvae feed on umbellifers, particularly Wild Carrot.