Ancylis laetana
This record describes Ancylis laetana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan about 15 mm. A number of the British Ancylis species are rather similar in appearance, whereas laetana displays an unusually whitish (for the genus) forewing ground colour. Flying in May and June in a single generation, the adults appear from dusk onwards and later come to light. The foodplants are Aspen and occasionally Black Poplar. The species is distributed most commonly in the south-east and south of England, but occurs in scattered locations northwards to Scotland. 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
Where the foodplants occur.
Seasonal Activity
Flying in May and June in a single generation, the adults appear from dusk onwards and later come to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The foodplants are Aspen and occasionally Black Poplar.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The species is distributed most commonly in the south-east and south of England, but occurs in scattered locations northwards to Scotland. 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 laetana. 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 Ancylis laetana
What is Ancylis laetana?
Ancylis laetana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Ancylis laetana found?
Habitat: Where the foodplants occur.
When is Ancylis laetana active?
Ancylis laetana: seasonal activity - Flying in May and June in a single generation, the adults appear from dusk onwards and later come to light..
What is the life cycle of a Ancylis laetana?
The foodplants are Aspen and occasionally Black Poplar.