Bud Moth
Spilonota ocellana
This record describes Spilonota ocellana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 12-17 mm. Although quite variable in the density and colour of the markings, this moth can usually be identified by the darker area towards the head and the small blackish triangular blotch on each forewing, forming a diamond shape when at rest. Open woodland, hedgerows, orchards, gardens and plantations. The larvae feed on a wide range of shrubs and trees and, as the English name suggests, burrow into the buds during the spring, causing them to wither. It is quite common over much of Britain, especially the south. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Eucosmini
- Genus
- Spilonota
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Open woodland, hedgerows, orchards, gardens and plantations.
Seasonal Activity
Flies during July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a wide range of shrubs and trees and, as the English name suggests, burrow into the buds during the spring, causing them to wither.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is quite common over much of Britain, especially the south. 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 Spilonota ocellana. 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 Bud Moth (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Bud Moth
What is Bud Moth?
Bud Moth (Spilonota ocellana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Bud Moth found?
Habitat: Open woodland, hedgerows, orchards, gardens and plantations.
When is Bud Moth active?
Bud Moth: seasonal activity - Flies during July and August..
What is the life cycle of a Bud Moth?
The larvae feed on a wide range of shrubs and trees and, as the English name suggests, burrow into the buds during the spring, causing them to wither.