Cydia ulicetana
This record describes Cydia ulicetana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 12-16 mm. A small greyish brown moth. The main markings are at the rear of the wing. Heathland and moorland, usually around Gorse or Broom. The males fly in sunshine, but the females tend to be more crepuscular. The species is on the wing in May, with a second generation in the South from July to September. The larvae feed internally in the seedpods of plants such as Gorse and Broom. A fairly common species throughout the British Isles, though not well recorded. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Cydia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Heathland and moorland, usually around Gorse or Broom.
Seasonal Activity
The males fly in sunshine, but the females tend to be more crepuscular. The species is on the wing in May, with a second generation in the South from July to September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed internally in the seedpods of plants such as Gorse and Broom.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A fairly common species throughout the British Isles, though not well recorded. 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 Cydia ulicetana. 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 Cydia ulicetana (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Cydia ulicetana
What is Cydia ulicetana?
Cydia ulicetana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Cydia ulicetana found?
Habitat: Heathland and moorland, usually around Gorse or Broom.
When is Cydia ulicetana active?
Cydia ulicetana: seasonal activity - The males fly in sunshine, but the females tend to be more crepuscular. The species is on the wing in May, with a second generation in the South from July to September..
What is the life cycle of a Cydia ulicetana?
The larvae feed internally in the seedpods of plants such as Gorse and Broom.