Bird-cherry Ermine
Yponomeuta evonymella
This record describes Yponomeuta evonymella (species). Recorded family: Yponomeutidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 16-25 mm. Some members of the small 'Ermines' are difficult to separate visually but this species is one of the easiest by having five rows of black dots on the forewing. Woodland and scrub favouring Bird Cherry (Prunus padus). Nocturnal, it flies during July and August. The larvae feed on the leaves of Bird Cherry (Prunus padus) and can occur in pest numbers, completely stripping the plant. Common throughout much of the British Isles, more numerous in the north. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Yponomeuta evonymella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yponomeuta evonymella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Yponomeutoidea
- Family
- Yponomeutidae (Ermine Moths)
- Subfamily
- Yponomeutinae
- Tribe
- Yponomeutini
- Genus
- Yponomeuta (Small Ermine Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Woodland and scrub favouring Bird Cherry (Prunus padus).
Seasonal Activity
Nocturnal, it flies during July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on the leaves of Bird Cherry (Prunus padus) and can occur in pest numbers, completely stripping the plant.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Common throughout much of the British Isles, more numerous in the north. 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 Yponomeuta evonymella. 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 Bird-cherry Ermine (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Bird-cherry Ermine
What is Bird-cherry Ermine?
Bird-cherry Ermine (Yponomeuta evonymella) is a species in the family Yponomeutidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Bird-cherry Ermine found?
Habitat: Woodland and scrub favouring Bird Cherry (Prunus padus).
When is Bird-cherry Ermine active?
Bird-cherry Ermine: seasonal activity - Nocturnal, it flies during July and August..
What is the life cycle of a Bird-cherry Ermine?
The larvae feed on the leaves of Bird Cherry (Prunus padus) and can occur in pest numbers, completely stripping the plant.