Epermenia falciformis
This record describes Epermenia falciformis (species). Recorded family: Epermeniidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 9-11 mm. A fairly distinctive and well-marked species being patterned in buffs and browns with odd dark marks. Note the tufts along the back. Preferring moist habitats, marshes and water margins. The adult moths are on the wing in two generations, from June to July and again in August and September. The larvae feed on Wild Angelica or Ground-elder feeding in spun leaves or mining the stems. Distributed locally in the southern half of England. It also occurs sporadically in parts of Wales. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Wikipedia reference for Epermenia falciformis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epermenia_falciformis.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Epermeniidae
- Genus
- Epermenia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Preferring moist habitats, marshes and water margins.
Seasonal Activity
The adult moths are on the wing in two generations, from June to July and again in August and September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Wild Angelica or Ground-elder feeding in spun leaves or mining the stems.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Distributed locally in the southern half of England. It also occurs sporadically in parts of Wales. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Epermenia falciformis. 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 Epermenia falciformis (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Epermenia falciformis
What is Epermenia falciformis?
Epermenia falciformis is a species in the family Epermeniidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Epermenia falciformis found?
Habitat: Preferring moist habitats, marshes and water margins.
When is Epermenia falciformis active?
Epermenia falciformis: seasonal activity - The adult moths are on the wing in two generations, from June to July and again in August and September..
What is the life cycle of a Epermenia falciformis?
The larvae feed on Wild Angelica or Ground-elder feeding in spun leaves or mining the stems.