Common Swift
Korscheltellus lupulina
This record describes Korscheltellus lupulina (species). Recorded family: Hepialidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 25-40 mm. A variable species, ranging in colour fron gingery brown to pale grey, and with white markings of varying boldness. Various grassland, gardens and roadside verges. Feeding on the roots of grasses and small plants, the larvae live underground. The commonest of the Swift moths, distributed throughout Britain.
Wikipedia reference for Korscheltellus lupulina: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korscheltellus lupulina.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Hepialoidea
- Family
- Hepialidae (Swift Moths)
- Genus
- Korscheltellus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various grassland, gardens and roadside verges.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in May and June.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Feeding on the roots of grasses and small plants, the larvae live underground.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The commonest of the Swift moths, distributed throughout Britain.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Korscheltellus lupulina. 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 Common Swift (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Common Swift
What is Common Swift?
Common Swift (Korscheltellus lupulina) is a species in the family Hepialidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Common Swift found?
Habitat: Various grassland, gardens and roadside verges.
When is Common Swift active?
Common Swift: seasonal activity - The adults fly in May and June..
What is the life cycle of a Common Swift?
Feeding on the roots of grasses and small plants, the larvae live underground.