Dioryctria abietella
This record describes Dioryctria abietella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 26 to 32 mm. There is considerable uncertainty to the status of the four Dioryctria species in Britain, as they are very difficult to tell apart. In particular, D. abietella and D. simplicella. Both D. abietella and D. simplicella are associated with pine. The flight period is July and August, when the species can be taken at light. It is also a sporadic migrant. The larvae feed on various parts of pine, including cones, shoots and buds. Fairly frequent and widespread 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
- Family
- Pyralidae
- Genus
- Dioryctria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Both D. abietella and D. simplicella are associated with pine.
Seasonal Activity
The flight period is July and August, when the species can be taken at light. It is also a sporadic migrant.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on various parts of pine, including cones, shoots and buds.
Additional species information
Recorded status
of the four Dioryctria species in Britain, as they are very difficult to tell apart. In particular, D. abietella and D. simplicella.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Dioryctria abietella. 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 Dioryctria abietella (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Dioryctria abietella
What is Dioryctria abietella?
Dioryctria abietella is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Dioryctria abietella found?
Habitat: Both D. abietella and D. simplicella are associated with pine.
When is Dioryctria abietella active?
Dioryctria abietella: seasonal activity - The flight period is July and August, when the species can be taken at light. It is also a sporadic migrant..
What is the life cycle of a Dioryctria abietella?
The larvae feed on various parts of pine, including cones, shoots and buds.