Cochylimorpha straminea
This record describes Cochylimorpha straminea (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 10-16 mm. A fairly plain buff coloured moth, with a pale, rust coloured band forming a 'V' pattern on its back. There is just the hint of a darker band at the wing tips but none of its markings are particularly pronounced. Occurring in any suitable habitat where the food plant Common Knapweed occurs. There are two generations with moths on the wing from May to July and again from late August to September. The larvae feed in the stems below the flower head feeding on the developing seeds, or on young shoots in the second generation. Widely distributed and fairly frequent, particularly in the southern half of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Cochylimorpha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occurring in any suitable habitat where the food plant Common Knapweed occurs.
Seasonal Activity
There are two generations with moths on the wing from May to July and again from late August to September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed in the stems below the flower head feeding on the developing seeds, or on young shoots in the second generation.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widely distributed and fairly frequent, particularly in the southern half of 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 Cochylimorpha straminea. 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 Cochylimorpha straminea (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Cochylimorpha straminea
What is Cochylimorpha straminea?
Cochylimorpha straminea is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Cochylimorpha straminea found?
Habitat: Occurring in any suitable habitat where the food plant Common Knapweed occurs.
When is Cochylimorpha straminea active?
Cochylimorpha straminea: seasonal activity - There are two generations with moths on the wing from May to July and again from late August to September..
What is the life cycle of a Cochylimorpha straminea?
The larvae feed in the stems below the flower head feeding on the developing seeds, or on young shoots in the second generation.