Anania perlucidalis
This record describes Anania perlucidalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 21-23mm. A fairly plain browny-white moth with a dark mark on the wings. Grassland and scrub where Thistles are present, also known to enjoy coastal locations. The adults are found on the wing during June and July. The life history is incompletely known but it is thought to feed on various Thistles Formerly an infrequent species, of which there are relatively few records. It was first found in 1957 in a Huntingdonshire fen. It has since increased its range and become much more frequent. 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
Grassland and scrub where Thistles are present, also known to enjoy coastal locations.
Seasonal Activity
The adults are found on the wing during June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The life history is incompletely known but it is thought to feed on various Thistles
Additional species information
Recorded status
Formerly an infrequent species, of which there are relatively few records. It was first found in 1957 in a Huntingdonshire fen. It has since increased its range and become much more frequent. 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 perlucidalis. 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 perlucidalis (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Anania perlucidalis
What is Anania perlucidalis?
Anania perlucidalis is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Anania perlucidalis found?
Habitat: Grassland and scrub where Thistles are present, also known to enjoy coastal locations.
When is Anania perlucidalis active?
Anania perlucidalis: seasonal activity - The adults are found on the wing during June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Anania perlucidalis?
The life history is incompletely known but it is thought to feed on various Thistles