Ancylis diminutana
This record describes Ancylis diminutana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 12 to 18 mm. This is quite a distinctive species. Formerly treated as a form of Ancylis geminana , this has now been granted specific status. This is a scarce species in our area so please provide a photograph to support your record. Occupies damp habitats where the foodplant, willow grows. The adults fly from May through to August. The larva spins a leaf of the foodplant, forming an enclosed pod or cone inside which it feeds. Believed to be widespread but local throughout much of Britain. 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
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Ancylis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occupies damp habitats where the foodplant, willow grows.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly from May through to August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva spins a leaf of the foodplant, forming an enclosed pod or cone inside which it feeds.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Believed to be widespread but local throughout much of Britain. 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 Ancylis diminutana. 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 diminutana (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Ancylis diminutana
What is Ancylis diminutana?
Ancylis diminutana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Ancylis diminutana found?
Habitat: Occupies damp habitats where the foodplant, willow grows.
When is Ancylis diminutana active?
Ancylis diminutana: seasonal activity - The adults fly from May through to August..
What is the life cycle of a Ancylis diminutana?
The larva spins a leaf of the foodplant, forming an enclosed pod or cone inside which it feeds.