Ermine Moth agg.
Yponomeuta
This record describes Yponomeuta (genus). Recorded family: Yponomeutidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Four Ermine moth species, namely Orchard Ermine (Yponomeuta padella), Apple Ermine (Yponomeuta malinellus), Spindle Ermine (Yponomeuta cagnagella) and Willow Ermine ( Yponomeuta rorrella ) should now be recorded as Yponomeuta agg. , unless it is made clear that they were recorded as an occupied larval web or reared from the relevant larval foodplant. See individual species pages for further details. See individual species pages for further details.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Yponomeutoidea
- Family
- Yponomeutidae (Ermine Moths)
- Subfamily
- Yponomeutinae
- Genus
- Yponomeuta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
See individual species pages for further details.
Seasonal Activity
See individual species pages for further details.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread in Britain as an aggregate.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Yponomeuta. 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 Ermine Moth agg. (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Ermine Moth agg.
What is Ermine Moth agg.?
Ermine Moth agg. (Yponomeuta) is a genus in the family Yponomeutidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Ermine Moth agg. found?
Habitat: See individual species pages for further details.
When is Ermine Moth agg. active?
Ermine Moth agg.: seasonal activity - See individual species pages for further details..