Aethes cnicana
This record describes Aethes cnicana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 14 to 17 mm. The adults of this species generally have a slightly glossy appearance to the forewings. Around rough grassland areas containing thistle the larval foodplant. The adults are on the wing in June and July and are often attracted to light. Various species of thistle form the foodplant, where the larvae devour the seeds before entering the stem where they pupate. Widely distributed and fairly common over most of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Aethes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around rough grassland areas containing thistle the larval foodplant.
Seasonal Activity
The adults are on the wing in June and July and are often attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Various species of thistle form the foodplant, where the larvae devour the seeds before entering the stem where they pupate.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widely distributed and fairly common over most of the British Isles. 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 Aethes cnicana. 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 Aethes cnicana (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Aethes cnicana
What is Aethes cnicana?
Aethes cnicana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Aethes cnicana found?
Habitat: Around rough grassland areas containing thistle the larval foodplant.
When is Aethes cnicana active?
Aethes cnicana: seasonal activity - The adults are on the wing in June and July and are often attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Aethes cnicana?
Various species of thistle form the foodplant, where the larvae devour the seeds before entering the stem where they pupate.