Coleophora prunifoliae
This record describes Coleophora prunifoliae (species). Recorded family: Coleophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 10 to 12 mm. A mid grey coloured moth which is externally very similar to a number of other Coleophorids and is only safely identified by dissection. Areas where the larval foodplants occur. The larval foodplants are blackthorn, apple and dwarf cherry the larva forming a case similar to that of P. coracipennella. Only recently added to the British list when it was discovered in Cornwall, this species is now known from a number of English counties, although due to confusion with other species, details of its distribution are limited. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B, but this will almost certainly be revised when its true distribution becomes better known. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Coleophoridae
- Genus
- Coleophora
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Areas where the larval foodplants occur.
Seasonal Activity
From mid-June to the end of July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larval foodplants are blackthorn, apple and dwarf cherry the larva forming a case similar to that of P. coracipennella.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Only recently added to the British list when it was discovered in Cornwall, this species is now known from a number of English counties, although due to confusion with other species, details of its distribution are limited. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B, but this will almost certainly be revised when its true distribution becomes better known.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Coleophora prunifoliae. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Coleophora prunifoliae
What is Coleophora prunifoliae?
Coleophora prunifoliae is a species in the family Coleophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Coleophora prunifoliae found?
Habitat: Areas where the larval foodplants occur.
When is Coleophora prunifoliae active?
Coleophora prunifoliae: seasonal activity - From mid-June to the end of July..
What is the life cycle of a Coleophora prunifoliae?
The larval foodplants are blackthorn, apple and dwarf cherry the larva forming a case similar to that of P. coracipennella.