Bactra furfurana
This record describes Bactra furfurana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 13 to 19 mm. When well-marked this species is fairly distinctive, poorly-marked specimens are difficult to separate from other Bactra species. This species occupies damp marshy habitats. The larvae feed in the stems of rushes such as Common Club-rush and Compact Rush hollowing out the stem. Fairly frequent locally over much of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Olethreutini
- Genus
- Bactra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
This species occupies damp marshy habitats.
Seasonal Activity
The adult moths fly in June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed in the stems of rushes such as Common Club-rush and Compact Rush hollowing out the stem.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly frequent locally over much of the British Isles. 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 Bactra furfurana. 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 Bactra furfurana (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Bactra furfurana
What is Bactra furfurana?
Bactra furfurana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Bactra furfurana found?
Habitat: This species occupies damp marshy habitats.
When is Bactra furfurana active?
Bactra furfurana: seasonal activity - The adult moths fly in June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Bactra furfurana?
The larvae feed in the stems of rushes such as Common Club-rush and Compact Rush hollowing out the stem.