Agrotera nemoralis
This record describes Agrotera nemoralis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 20 to 24 mm. An attractive and distinctive moth. Associated with Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and a few other deciduous trees, but usually encountered as a migrant in Britain. The larvae feed on Hornbeam, Birch, Hazel and Chestnut leaves. Perhaps restricted to one Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) wood in Kent. Other finds probably represent immigrants. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Red Data Book 1. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Crambidae
- Genus
- Agrotera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Associated with Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and a few other deciduous trees, but usually encountered as a migrant in Britain.
Seasonal Activity
May to July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Hornbeam, Birch, Hazel and Chestnut leaves.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Perhaps restricted to one Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) wood in Kent. Other finds probably represent immigrants. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Red Data Book 1.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agrotera nemoralis. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Agrotera nemoralis
What is Agrotera nemoralis?
Agrotera nemoralis is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Agrotera nemoralis found?
Habitat: Associated with Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and a few other deciduous trees, but usually encountered as a migrant in Britain.
When is Agrotera nemoralis active?
Agrotera nemoralis: seasonal activity - May to July..
What is the life cycle of a Agrotera nemoralis?
The larvae feed on Hornbeam, Birch, Hazel and Chestnut leaves.