Endothenia gentianaeana
This record describes Endothenia gentianaeana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 15 to19 mm. This is one of several species of Endothenia in which the adults closely resemble each other, and require dissection of the genitalia for accurate identification. Adults fly in June and July, usually in the vicinity of teasel (Dipsacus fullonum). The larva always feeds singly on the pith in the cavity of a teasel seedhead. In England and Wales, it is commonest in the south and scarcer northwards, but it can be locally abundant in northern England if teasel is plentiful and permanently established; at some localities occupying 100% of the teasel seedheads. In the Butterfly Conservations Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Endothenia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around Teasel.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly in June and July, usually in the vicinity of teasel (Dipsacus fullonum).
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva always feeds singly on the pith in the cavity of a teasel seedhead.
Additional species information
Recorded status
In England and Wales, it is commonest in the south and scarcer northwards, but it can be locally abundant in northern England if teasel is plentiful and permanently established; at some localities occupying 100% of the teasel seedheads. In the Butterfly Conservations Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Endothenia gentianaeana. 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 Endothenia gentianaeana (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Endothenia gentianaeana
What is Endothenia gentianaeana?
Endothenia gentianaeana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Endothenia gentianaeana found?
Habitat: Around Teasel.
When is Endothenia gentianaeana active?
Endothenia gentianaeana: seasonal activity - Adults fly in June and July, usually in the vicinity of teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)..
What is the life cycle of a Endothenia gentianaeana?
The larva always feeds singly on the pith in the cavity of a teasel seedhead.