Anacampsis populella
This record describes Anacampsis populella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
A very plain grey species. It is difficult to tell from A. blattariella but that has a different foodplant. Areas containing Willows, Poplars, Aspen etc. It flies in July and August and can sometimes be found at rest on leaves and trunks of the foodplants as was the case with the individual in the photograph. The larva feeds on Willow (Salix) and Poplar (Populus), in a leaf rolled in the manner of a Tortrix. Widespread and fairly frequent in England but less so in Scotland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Anacampsinae
- Tribe
- Anacampsini
- Genus
- Anacampsis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Areas containing Willows, Poplars, Aspen etc.
Seasonal Activity
It flies in July and August and can sometimes be found at rest on leaves and trunks of the foodplants as was the case with the individual in the photograph.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva feeds on Willow (Salix) and Poplar (Populus), in a leaf rolled in the manner of a Tortrix.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread and fairly frequent in England but less so in Scotland. 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 Anacampsis populella. 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 Anacampsis populella (4)
Frequently Asked Questions About Anacampsis populella
What is Anacampsis populella?
Anacampsis populella is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Anacampsis populella found?
Habitat: Areas containing Willows, Poplars, Aspen etc.
When is Anacampsis populella active?
Anacampsis populella: seasonal activity - It flies in July and August and can sometimes be found at rest on leaves and trunks of the foodplants as was the case with the individual in the photograph..
What is the life cycle of a Anacampsis populella?
The larva feeds on Willow (Salix) and Poplar (Populus), in a leaf rolled in the manner of a Tortrix.