Eucosma obumbratana
This record describes Eucosma obumbratana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 14-20 mm. A very plain orangey brown moth. The colour varies slightly. Farmland and along the edges of meadows. July and August. Normal flight time is from dusk onwards and they are attracted to light. The larvae feed in the autumn on the seed heads of Perennial Sow-thistle before overwintering in a cocoon. A relatively uncommon species, though widely distributed in England and 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
- Eucosma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Farmland and along the edges of meadows.
Seasonal Activity
July and August. Normal flight time is from dusk onwards and they are attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed in the autumn on the seed heads of Perennial Sow-thistle before overwintering in a cocoon.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A relatively uncommon species, though widely distributed in England and 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 Eucosma obumbratana. 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 obumbratana (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Eucosma obumbratana
What is Eucosma obumbratana?
Eucosma obumbratana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Eucosma obumbratana found?
Habitat: Farmland and along the edges of meadows.
When is Eucosma obumbratana active?
Eucosma obumbratana: seasonal activity - July and August. Normal flight time is from dusk onwards and they are attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Eucosma obumbratana?
The larvae feed in the autumn on the seed heads of Perennial Sow-thistle before overwintering in a cocoon.