Anania lancealis
This record describes Anania lancealis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 26 to 34 mm. The males of this species have distinctively long and narrow forewings, the females being more normally proportioned. Can be confused with the much more common Mother of Pearl. Records must be supported by detailed photographs. The moth inhabits woodland and marshy fenland. The larvae feed mainly on hemp agrimony (Eupatorium), but also other plants. It occurs in the southern half of England and in Wales. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. 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
The moth inhabits woodland and marshy fenland.
Seasonal Activity
Flies at night in June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed mainly on hemp agrimony (Eupatorium), but also other plants.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It occurs in the southern half of England and in Wales. 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 Anania lancealis. 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 lancealis
What is Anania lancealis?
Anania lancealis is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Anania lancealis found?
Habitat: The moth inhabits woodland and marshy fenland.
When is Anania lancealis active?
Anania lancealis: seasonal activity - Flies at night in June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Anania lancealis?
The larvae feed mainly on hemp agrimony (Eupatorium), but also other plants.