Dichrorampha plumbana
This record describes Dichrorampha plumbana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan around 13 mm. On first appearance, this rather small species appears dull and uninspiring, but on closer inspection, it can be seen to have an attractive pattern of chestnut, metallic grey and black. There are other similar members of the genus and this moth therefore requires very detailed examination to identify it to species level. Areas where the larval foodplants are plentiful. It flies during the daytime as well as evening, in May and June. The larvae feed in the rootstock of Ox-eye daisy and Yarrow from August through to the following spring. It is fairly well distributed but quite local throughout much of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservations Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Dichrorampha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Areas where the larval foodplants are plentiful.
Seasonal Activity
It flies during the daytime as well as evening, in May and June.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed in the rootstock of Ox-eye daisy and Yarrow from August through to the following spring.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is fairly well distributed but quite local throughout much of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservations Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Dichrorampha plumbana. 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 Dichrorampha plumbana (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Dichrorampha plumbana
What is Dichrorampha plumbana?
Dichrorampha plumbana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Dichrorampha plumbana found?
Habitat: Areas where the larval foodplants are plentiful.
When is Dichrorampha plumbana active?
Dichrorampha plumbana: seasonal activity - It flies during the daytime as well as evening, in May and June..
What is the life cycle of a Dichrorampha plumbana?
The larvae feed in the rootstock of Ox-eye daisy and Yarrow from August through to the following spring.