Anania coronata
This record describes Anania coronata (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 22-26 mm. This is an easy species to recognise - its dark brown wings have large pale circular patches and are lightly fringed. Rough ground and in gardens where Elder flourishes. June to July is the main flight period often attracted to light. Adults can sometimes be disturbed during the day from the foodplant. The larvae feed on the young leaves of Elder; they hibernate during the Winter, pupating in the Spring. Fairly common throughout England and Wales, and also Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Crambidae
- Genus
- Anania
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Rough ground and in gardens where Elder flourishes.
Seasonal Activity
June to July is the main flight period often attracted to light. Adults can sometimes be disturbed during the day from the foodplant.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on the young leaves of Elder; they hibernate during the Winter, pupating in the Spring.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly common throughout England and Wales, and also Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Anania coronata. 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 Anania coronata (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Anania coronata
What is Anania coronata?
Anania coronata is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Anania coronata found?
Habitat: Rough ground and in gardens where Elder flourishes.
When is Anania coronata active?
Anania coronata: seasonal activity - June to July is the main flight period often attracted to light. Adults can sometimes be disturbed during the day from the foodplant..
What is the life cycle of a Anania coronata?
The larvae feed on the young leaves of Elder; they hibernate during the Winter, pupating in the Spring.