Brindled Plume
Amblyptilia punctidactyla
This record describes Amblyptilia punctidactyla (species). Recorded family: Pterophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 18 to 23 mm. Superficially similar to A. acanthadactyla , this species is generally greyer and less warm in colouration, and has a more speckled appearance. There are two generations with moths flying in July and then from September, hibernating until the following spring. The larvae feed on the flowers and unripe seeds of Hedge Woundwort and a number of other herbaceous plants. Widely but locally distributed over much of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Pterophoridae
- Genus
- Amblyptilia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Frequenting various habitats.
Seasonal Activity
There are two generations with moths flying in July and then from September, hibernating until the following spring.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on the flowers and unripe seeds of Hedge Woundwort and a number of other herbaceous plants.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widely but locally distributed over much of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Amblyptilia punctidactyla. 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 Brindled Plume (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Brindled Plume
What is Brindled Plume?
Brindled Plume (Amblyptilia punctidactyla) is a species in the family Pterophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Brindled Plume found?
Habitat: Frequenting various habitats.
When is Brindled Plume active?
Brindled Plume: seasonal activity - There are two generations with moths flying in July and then from September, hibernating until the following spring..
What is the life cycle of a Brindled Plume?
The larvae feed on the flowers and unripe seeds of Hedge Woundwort and a number of other herbaceous plants.