Small Magpie Moth
Anania hortulata
This record describes Anania hortulata (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. 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 Anania hortulata: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anania hortulata.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Pyraustinae
- Tribe
- Pyraustini
- Genus
- Anania
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Any habitat where Nettles are found.
Seasonal Activity
Flies in June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The main food plant is Nettle, but Woundworts, Mints, Horehounds and Bindweeds are also used. The larva feeds from a rolled or spun leaf in August and September before hibernating in a tough silk cocoon in a hollow stem or under bark. Pupation occurs in May in the same cocoon, without further feeding.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is very common in the Southern half of Britain, becoming less so further North. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Anania hortulata. 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 Small Magpie Moth (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Small Magpie Moth
How big is Small Magpie Moth?
24mm to 28mm (0.94" to 1.10")
Where is Small Magpie Moth found?
Habitat: Any habitat where Nettles are found.
When is Small Magpie Moth active?
Small Magpie Moth: seasonal activity - Flies in June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Small Magpie Moth?
The main food plant is Nettle, but Woundworts, Mints, Horehounds and Bindweeds are also used. The larva feeds from a rolled or spun leaf in August and September before hibernating in a tough silk cocoon in a hollow stem or under bark. Pupation occurs in May in the same cocoon, without further feeding.