Eucosma conterminana
This record describes Eucosma conterminana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 15 to19 mm. The British Eucosma species can be a difficult group to identify, but conterminana is more distinctive, having a pale sandy ground colour and a creamy dorsal blotch. It inhabits dry and stony or chalky habitats. The moths fly during July and August when they can be attracted by light. The larvae feed on Prickly Lettuce, Great Lettuce and cultivated forms of lettuce. Because of this it is sometimes found around arable areas. It occurs locally in the south and south east of England. In the Butterfly Conservations Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Eucosma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It inhabits dry and stony or chalky habitats.
Seasonal Activity
The moths fly during July and August when they can be attracted by light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Prickly Lettuce, Great Lettuce and cultivated forms of lettuce. Because of this it is sometimes found around arable areas.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It occurs locally in the south and south east of England. In the Butterfly Conservations Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eucosma conterminana. 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 Eucosma conterminana (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Eucosma conterminana
What is Eucosma conterminana?
Eucosma conterminana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Eucosma conterminana found?
Habitat: It inhabits dry and stony or chalky habitats.
When is Eucosma conterminana active?
Eucosma conterminana: seasonal activity - The moths fly during July and August when they can be attracted by light..
What is the life cycle of a Eucosma conterminana?
The larvae feed on Prickly Lettuce, Great Lettuce and cultivated forms of lettuce. Because of this it is sometimes found around arable areas.