Cherry Fruit Moth
Argyresthia pruniella
This record describes Argyresthia pruniella (species). Recorded family: Argyresthiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 10 to 13 mm. A small brown and white species that is similar to many others in the genus. Cherry orchards and around cherry trees. If you look closely at a cherry tree on a calm evening in July, you may find a number of these moths flitting around and resting distinctively 'nose-down' on the leaves. The larvae feed internally in the cherries themselves. For this reason it can be a nuisance in orchards. It is widespread and common throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Argyresthia pruniella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argyresthia_pruniella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Yponomeutoidea
- Family
- Argyresthiidae (Shiny Headstand Moths)
- Subfamily
- Argyresthiinae
- Genus
- Argyresthia (Argents)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Cherry orchards and around cherry trees. If you look closely at a cherry tree on a calm evening in July, you may find a number of these moths flitting around and resting distinctively 'nose-down' on the leaves.
Seasonal Activity
Late June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed internally in the cherries themselves. For this reason it can be a nuisance in orchards.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is widespread and common throughout Britain. 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 Argyresthia pruniella. 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 Cherry Fruit Moth (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Cherry Fruit Moth
What is Cherry Fruit Moth?
Cherry Fruit Moth (Argyresthia pruniella) is a species in the family Argyresthiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Cherry Fruit Moth found?
Habitat: Cherry orchards and around cherry trees. If you look closely at a cherry tree on a calm evening in July, you may find a number of these moths flitting around and resting distinctively 'nose-down' on the leaves.
When is Cherry Fruit Moth active?
Cherry Fruit Moth: seasonal activity - Late June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Cherry Fruit Moth?
The larvae feed internally in the cherries themselves. For this reason it can be a nuisance in orchards.