Agonopterix alstromeriana
This record describes Agonopterix alstromeriana (species). Recorded family: Depressariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 17-20 mm. Fairly unmistakable combination of large black costal blotch with adjacent rusty red elongate mark and prominent apical dots. Areas where foodplant (Hemlock) is found including roadsides, waste ground, marshes and river sides. The larvae feed on the flowers and leaves of Hemlock ( Conium maculatum ) between May and July. Reasonably common over most of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Depressariidae
- Genus
- Agonopterix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Areas where foodplant (Hemlock) is found including roadsides, waste ground, marshes and river sides.
Seasonal Activity
August to April.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on the flowers and leaves of Hemlock (
Additional species information
Recorded status
Reasonably 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 Agonopterix alstromeriana. 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 Agonopterix alstromeriana (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Agonopterix alstromeriana
What is Agonopterix alstromeriana?
Agonopterix alstromeriana is a species in the family Depressariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Agonopterix alstromeriana found?
Habitat: Areas where foodplant (Hemlock) is found including roadsides, waste ground, marshes and river sides.
When is Agonopterix alstromeriana active?
Agonopterix alstromeriana: seasonal activity - August to April..
What is the life cycle of a Agonopterix alstromeriana?
The larvae feed on the flowers and leaves of Hemlock (