Calamotropha paludella
This record describes Calamotropha paludella (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 22-33 mm. Sexually dimorphic, the males are slightly smaller and darker than the females. Both sexes have bright white hind wings. In marshes, fens and other wet habitats. The adults fly in July and August and are attracted to light. The slender larva mines the leaves, stems and upper rootstock of Bulrush from September to May, pupating there in June and July. Locally distributed in south and south-east England, with some records as far north as Cheshire and Lancashire. 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
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Crambinae
- Tribe
- Calamotrophini
- Genus
- Calamotropha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
In marshes, fens and other wet habitats.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in July and August and are attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The slender larva mines the leaves, stems and upper rootstock of Bulrush from September to May, pupating there in June and July.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Locally distributed in south and south-east England, with some records as far north as Cheshire and Lancashire. 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 Calamotropha paludella. 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 Calamotropha paludella (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Calamotropha paludella
What is Calamotropha paludella?
Calamotropha paludella is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Calamotropha paludella found?
Habitat: In marshes, fens and other wet habitats.
When is Calamotropha paludella active?
Calamotropha paludella: seasonal activity - The adults fly in July and August and are attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Calamotropha paludella?
The slender larva mines the leaves, stems and upper rootstock of Bulrush from September to May, pupating there in June and July.