Epiblema grandaevana
This record describes Epiblema grandaevana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 21 to 30 mm. One of the largest of the British Tortricidae . The larvae feed on the roots of plants such as Coltsfoot. This is quite a rare species. It was formerly established on the coast of north-east England until around 1910. Since then only scattered records have occurred. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as pRDB 2. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Epiblema
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly generally in July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on the roots of plants such as Coltsfoot.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This is quite a rare species. It was formerly established on the coast of north-east England until around 1910. Since then only scattered records have occurred. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as pRDB 2.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Epiblema grandaevana. 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 Epiblema grandaevana (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Epiblema grandaevana
What is Epiblema grandaevana?
Epiblema grandaevana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
When is Epiblema grandaevana active?
Epiblema grandaevana: seasonal activity - The adults fly generally in July..
What is the life cycle of a Epiblema grandaevana?
The larvae feed on the roots of plants such as Coltsfoot.