Anania crocealis
This record describes Anania crocealis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Marshes, water meadows and similar damp localities. The flight period of the adults is July to August, when it flies at night and can be attracted by light. The larvae feed on common Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica) or Ploughman's Spikenard (Inula conyza). This species is distributed mainly in the south of England and Wales, where it is reasonably frequent locally. Further north it is much less frequent. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
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
Marshes, water meadows and similar damp localities.
Seasonal Activity
The flight period of the adults is July to August, when it flies at night and can be attracted by light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on common Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica) or Ploughman's Spikenard (Inula conyza).
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species is distributed mainly in the south of England and Wales, where it is reasonably frequent locally. Further north it is much less frequent. 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 Anania crocealis. 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 Anania crocealis
What is Anania crocealis?
Anania crocealis is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Anania crocealis found?
Habitat: Marshes, water meadows and similar damp localities.
When is Anania crocealis active?
Anania crocealis: seasonal activity - The flight period of the adults is July to August, when it flies at night and can be attracted by light..
What is the life cycle of a Anania crocealis?
The larvae feed on common Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica) or Ploughman's Spikenard (Inula conyza).