Cochylichroa atricapitana
This record describes Cochylichroa atricapitana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 12-16 mm. It differs from similar species by its dark head and thorax. Areas containing Ragwort and other composite flowers. The adults fly in two generations, in May and June and again around August. The larvae feed on Common Ragwort. Early brood larvae in July start on the flowers and complete growth in the main stem, causing a swelling with an obvious hole where pupation occurs in a yellowish brown cocoon. The later larval brood feeds in September and October in the stems and rootstock and overwinters there until pupation in April. Generally distributed throughout the British Isles, this species has a tendency to be most common around the coast and on chalky ground. 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
- Cochylichroa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Areas containing Ragwort and other composite flowers.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in two generations, in May and June and again around August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Common Ragwort. Early brood larvae in July start on the flowers and complete growth in the main stem, causing a swelling with an obvious hole where pupation occurs in a yellowish brown cocoon. The later larval brood feeds in September and October in the stems and rootstock and overwinters there until pupation in April.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Generally distributed throughout the British Isles, this species has a tendency to be most common around the coast and on chalky ground. 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 Cochylichroa atricapitana. 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 Cochylichroa atricapitana (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Cochylichroa atricapitana
What is Cochylichroa atricapitana?
Cochylichroa atricapitana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Cochylichroa atricapitana found?
Habitat: Areas containing Ragwort and other composite flowers.
When is Cochylichroa atricapitana active?
Cochylichroa atricapitana: seasonal activity - The adults fly in two generations, in May and June and again around August..
What is the life cycle of a Cochylichroa atricapitana?
The larvae feed on Common Ragwort. Early brood larvae in July start on the flowers and complete growth in the main stem, causing a swelling with an obvious hole where pupation occurs in a yellowish brown cocoon. The later larval brood feeds in September and October in the stems and rootstock and overwinters there until pupation in April.