Cnephasia genitalana
This record describes Cnephasia genitalana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 15 to 22 mm. It is one of the least well-marked of the Cnephasia species, though some individuals are more strongly marked. The moth frequents chalk downland and rough grassland. The larvae feed in spun flowers or leaves of a range of herbaceous plants, for example ragwort and buttercup. Infrequent and local in Britain, occurring mainly in the southern counties of England and South Wales. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Cnephasia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
The moth frequents chalk downland and rough grassland.
Seasonal Activity
Flying in July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed in spun flowers or leaves of a range of herbaceous plants, for example ragwort and buttercup.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Infrequent and local in Britain, occurring mainly in the southern counties of England and South Wales. 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 Cnephasia genitalana. 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 Cnephasia genitalana (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Cnephasia genitalana
What is Cnephasia genitalana?
Cnephasia genitalana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Cnephasia genitalana found?
Habitat: The moth frequents chalk downland and rough grassland.
When is Cnephasia genitalana active?
Cnephasia genitalana: seasonal activity - Flying in July and August..
What is the life cycle of a Cnephasia genitalana?
The larvae feed in spun flowers or leaves of a range of herbaceous plants, for example ragwort and buttercup.