Agonopterix heracliana
This record describes Agonopterix heracliana (species). Recorded family: Depressariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 15 to 21 mm. Identification can be difficult but Agonopterix heracliana can generally be confirmed by checking the hindwing cilia lines, usually showing just one distinct line (with other faint lines possible). However dissection to confirm is preferred. A. heracliana can be reliably recorded in the larval stage, with the larva showing a green-tinged yellow/orange head. Where these checks have not been carried out records should be added to the Agonopterix heracliana agg. page. Records must include an image of the hindwing. Larval records must show the larval head colour. Gardens, waste ground, woodland edges and a wide range of other habitats. This moth can be found on the wing any time from September through to April. The larvae spin the leaves of a variety of umbelliferous plants, occurring between May and July. A common species throughout most of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Agonopterix heracliana: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agonopterix heracliana.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Depressariidae (Flat-bodied moths)
- Subfamily
- Depressariinae
- Genus
- Agonopterix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Gardens, waste ground, woodland edges and a wide range of other habitats.
Seasonal Activity
This moth can be found on the wing any time from September through to April.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae spin the leaves of a variety of umbelliferous plants, occurring between May and July.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A common species throughout most of 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 Agonopterix heracliana. 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 heracliana (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Agonopterix heracliana
What is Agonopterix heracliana?
Agonopterix heracliana is a species in the family Depressariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Agonopterix heracliana?
can be difficult but Agonopterix heracliana can generally be confirmed by checking the hindwing cilia lines, usually showing just one distinct line (with other faint lines possible). However dissection to confirm is preferred.
Where is Agonopterix heracliana found?
Habitat: Gardens, waste ground, woodland edges and a wide range of other habitats.
When is Agonopterix heracliana active?
Agonopterix heracliana: seasonal activity - This moth can be found on the wing any time from September through to April..
What is the life cycle of a Agonopterix heracliana?
The larvae spin the leaves of a variety of umbelliferous plants, occurring between May and July.