Prays ruficeps
This record describes Prays ruficeps (species). Recorded family: Praydidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 14-17 mm. Originally thought a dark form of Prays fraxinella (Ash Bud Moth). DNA bar coding indicates that P. ruficeps is a species distinct from P. fraxinella. The latter does have a dark form but in it the faint fraxinella markings can still be distinguished. Prays ruficeps is uniformly dark brown/blackish with an orangey red head. Accepted as a valid species in the new British list 2013. It is thought to be widespread and fairly frequent in Britain, but records prior to 2013 are uncertain due to the species being recorded as the dark form of Ash Bud Moth.
Wikipedia reference for Prays ruficeps: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prays_ruficeps.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Praydidae
- Genus
- Prays
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around wooded areas containing Ash.
Seasonal Activity
Late April to September.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Accepted as a valid species in the new British list 2013. It is thought to be widespread and fairly frequent in Britain, but records prior to 2013 are uncertain due to the species being recorded as the dark form of Ash Bud Moth.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Prays ruficeps. 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 Prays ruficeps (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Prays ruficeps
What is Prays ruficeps?
Prays ruficeps is a species in the family Praydidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Prays ruficeps found?
Habitat: Around wooded areas containing Ash.
When is Prays ruficeps active?
Prays ruficeps: seasonal activity - Late April to September..