Parsnip Webworm Moth
Depressaria radiella
This record describes Depressaria radiella (species). Recorded family: Depressariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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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 Depressaria radiella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depressaria_radiella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Depressariidae (Flat-bodied moths)
- Subfamily
- Depressariinae
- Genus
- Depressaria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Generally found occupying waste ground and dry pastures.
Seasonal Activity
September to May - The adults begin to hatch in September, and overwinter, appearing until the following May.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
As the English and scientific names suggest, the larvae feed on Wild Parsnip but also on Hogweed. At first the flowers and seeds are consumed, and later the larva enters the stem where it pupates.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread and fairly frequent in 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 Depressaria radiella. 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 Parsnip Webworm Moth (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Parsnip Webworm Moth
How big is Parsnip Webworm Moth?
14mm to 21mm (0.55" to 0.82")
Where is Parsnip Webworm Moth found?
Habitat: Generally found occupying waste ground and dry pastures.
When is Parsnip Webworm Moth active?
Parsnip Webworm Moth: seasonal activity - September to May - The adults begin to hatch in September, and overwinter, appearing until the following May..
What is the life cycle of a Parsnip Webworm Moth?
As the English and scientific names suggest, the larvae feed on Wild Parsnip but also on Hogweed. At first the flowers and seeds are consumed, and later the larva enters the stem where it pupates.