Epinotia signatana
This record describes Epinotia signatana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 15mm. Rather obscurely-marked brownish species. Flying in a single generation, moths are on the wing in June/July. The larvae feed on Prunus, particularly Blackthorn but also other related foodplants occasionally. This is relatively uncommon and found locally in south and south-east England, with a few records from further north into Scotland and in Wales. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Epinotia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Inhabits woods, thickets and hedgerows.
Seasonal Activity
Flying in a single generation, moths are on the wing in June/July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Prunus, particularly Blackthorn but also other related foodplants occasionally.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This is relatively uncommon and found locally in south and south-east England, with a few records from further north into Scotland and in 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 Epinotia signatana. 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 Epinotia signatana (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Epinotia signatana
What is Epinotia signatana?
Epinotia signatana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Epinotia signatana found?
Habitat: Inhabits woods, thickets and hedgerows.
When is Epinotia signatana active?
Epinotia signatana: seasonal activity - Flying in a single generation, moths are on the wing in June/July..
What is the life cycle of a Epinotia signatana?
The larvae feed on Prunus, particularly Blackthorn but also other related foodplants occasionally.