Dried Currant Moth
Cadra cautella
This record describes Cadra cautella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 15-22mm. One of several Ephestia / Cadra species that are generally separable only by dissection. Synanthropic, most likely to be found as a pest in warehouses and production facilities with stored nuts, seeds, fruit, cocoa etc. Rarely found in outdoor situations and light traps. Generally found May to October, in two generations. Adventive. Generally imported with foodstuffs. https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/cadra-cautella/ No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Cadra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Synanthropic, most likely to be found as a pest in warehouses and production facilities with stored nuts, seeds, fruit, cocoa etc. Rarely found in outdoor situations and light traps.
Seasonal Activity
Generally found May to October, in two generations.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Adventive. Generally imported with foodstuffs.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cadra cautella. 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 Dried Currant Moth (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Dried Currant Moth
What is Dried Currant Moth?
Dried Currant Moth (Cadra cautella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Dried Currant Moth found?
Habitat: Synanthropic, most likely to be found as a pest in warehouses and production facilities with stored nuts, seeds, fruit, cocoa etc. Rarely found in outdoor situations and light traps.
When is Dried Currant Moth active?
Dried Currant Moth: seasonal activity - Generally found May to October, in two generations..