Capua vulgana
This record describes Capua vulgana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 13 to19 mm. A fairly broad-winged Tortrix moth. The females are less well-marked than the males, which have paler markings on the base of the forewing, and a buff-coloured head. The main flight period is during May and June when the moths can be seen flying at dusk. The larvae feed on a range of woodland plants, including Alder, Rowan and Bilberry. Fairly common throughout much of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Capua
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Woodland and well wooded areas.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period is during May and June when the moths can be seen flying at dusk.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a range of woodland plants, including Alder, Rowan and Bilberry.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly common throughout much of the British Isles. 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 Capua vulgana. 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 Capua vulgana (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Capua vulgana
What is Capua vulgana?
Capua vulgana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Capua vulgana found?
Habitat: Woodland and well wooded areas.
When is Capua vulgana active?
Capua vulgana: seasonal activity - The main flight period is during May and June when the moths can be seen flying at dusk..
What is the life cycle of a Capua vulgana?
The larvae feed on a range of woodland plants, including Alder, Rowan and Bilberry.