Agonopterix ocellana
This record describes Agonopterix ocellana (species). Recorded family: Depressariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 19 to 22 mm. This fairly distinctive Agonopterix is easily identified by the combination of rufous, black and white in the centre of the forewing. Overwinters as an adult, often being found in early spring as it awakes from hibernation. The larva feeds on various willows, feeding between leaves spun together with silk. Relatively common throughout 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 willow is plentiful.
Seasonal Activity
Overwinters as an adult, often being found in early spring as it awakes from hibernation.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva feeds on various willows, feeding between leaves spun together with silk.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Relatively common throughout 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 ocellana. 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 ocellana (4)
Frequently Asked Questions About Agonopterix ocellana
What is Agonopterix ocellana?
Agonopterix ocellana is a species in the family Depressariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Agonopterix ocellana found?
Habitat: Areas where willow is plentiful.
When is Agonopterix ocellana active?
Agonopterix ocellana: seasonal activity - Overwinters as an adult, often being found in early spring as it awakes from hibernation..
What is the life cycle of a Agonopterix ocellana?
The larva feeds on various willows, feeding between leaves spun together with silk.