Ancylis achatana
This record describes Ancylis achatana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 14-18 mm. This is a moth with a rich brown and silvery appearance, sometimes dulled by darker shades of brown. Blackthorn thickets and hedgerows of Blackthorn and Hawthorn, scrub, open woodland, gardens. Larvae feed on the leaves of Hawthorn, Blackthorn and less often Cotoneasters. Another species which seems to be expanding its range. It is common locally in southern England, ranging northwards to Yorkshire where it has become more widespread in recent years. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Ancylis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Blackthorn thickets and hedgerows of Blackthorn and Hawthorn, scrub, open woodland, gardens.
Seasonal Activity
It flies in June and July
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larvae feed on the leaves of Hawthorn, Blackthorn and less often Cotoneasters.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Another species which seems to be expanding its range. It is common locally in southern England, ranging northwards to Yorkshire where it has become more widespread in recent years. 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 Ancylis achatana. 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 Ancylis achatana (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Ancylis achatana
What is Ancylis achatana?
Ancylis achatana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Ancylis achatana found?
Habitat: Blackthorn thickets and hedgerows of Blackthorn and Hawthorn, scrub, open woodland, gardens.
When is Ancylis achatana active?
Ancylis achatana: seasonal activity - It flies in June and July.
What is the life cycle of a Ancylis achatana?
Larvae feed on the leaves of Hawthorn, Blackthorn and less often Cotoneasters.