Crambus pascuella
This record describes Crambus pascuella (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 21-26 mm. This species has a distinct whitish streak against a yellow-brown ground colour. This pattern is similar to several other species and they can be rather difficult to separate. Flying from June to August, the adults are on the wing at night when they are attracted to light but are easily disturbed during the day from their grassy resting-places. Larva feeds within roots of various grasses, living within a silken tube or tent. Widespread and common in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Crambinae
- Tribe
- Crambini
- Genus
- Crambus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Most grassy areas.
Seasonal Activity
Flying from June to August, the adults are on the wing at night when they are attracted to light but are easily disturbed during the day from their grassy resting-places.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva feeds within roots of various grasses, living within a silken tube or tent.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread and common in 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 Crambus pascuella. 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 Crambus pascuella (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Crambus pascuella
What is Crambus pascuella?
Crambus pascuella is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Crambus pascuella found?
Habitat: Most grassy areas.
When is Crambus pascuella active?
Crambus pascuella: seasonal activity - Flying from June to August, the adults are on the wing at night when they are attracted to light but are easily disturbed during the day from their grassy resting-places..
What is the life cycle of a Crambus pascuella?
Larva feeds within roots of various grasses, living within a silken tube or tent.