Morning-glory Plume Moth
Emmelina monodactyla
This record describes Emmelina monodactyla (species). Recorded family: Pterophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| 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.
Wikipedia reference for Emmelina monodactyla: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmelina monodactyla.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pterophoroidea
- Family
- Pterophoridae (Plume Moths)
- Subfamily
- Pterophorinae
- Tribe
- Oidaematophorini
- Genus
- Emmelina
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It occurs in any suitable habitat where the larval foodplants occur.
Seasonal Activity
The adults occur in all months of the year.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larval foodplants are Bindweeds. Larvae have also been reported occasionally on Morning Glory and Oraches. They feed in two overlapping generations on leaves and flowers from late May to September.
Additional species information
Recorded status
One of the commonest of the 'Plume' moths all over Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Emmelina monodactyla. 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 Morning-glory Plume Moth (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Morning-glory Plume Moth
How big is Morning-glory Plume Moth?
23mm to 25mm (0.90" to 0.98")
Where is Morning-glory Plume Moth found?
Habitat: It occurs in any suitable habitat where the larval foodplants occur.
When is Morning-glory Plume Moth active?
Morning-glory Plume Moth: seasonal activity - The adults occur in all months of the year..
What is the life cycle of a Morning-glory Plume Moth?
The larval foodplants are Bindweeds. Larvae have also been reported occasionally on Morning Glory and Oraches. They feed in two overlapping generations on leaves and flowers from late May to September.