Eucosma pupillana
This record describes Eucosma pupillana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan around 17 mm. This species has a distinctive wing pattern of brown bars on a pale background. Records must be supported by a good photograph in view of the scarcity of this species in VC55. They rest among the foliage during the day, and fly later into the night. The larval foodplant is Wormwood, the larvae feeding inside the stems and roots. A local species, occurring sporadically in parts of southern England and Wales, ranging north to Derbyshire, but not common anywhere in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B. No additional images available for this species.
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
They rest among the foliage during the day, and fly later into the night.
Seasonal Activity
The adult moths fly in July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larval foodplant is Wormwood, the larvae feeding inside the stems and roots.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A local species, occurring sporadically in parts of southern England and Wales, ranging north to Derbyshire, but not common anywhere in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eucosma pupillana. 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 pupillana (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Eucosma pupillana
What is Eucosma pupillana?
Eucosma pupillana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Eucosma pupillana found?
Habitat: They rest among the foliage during the day, and fly later into the night.
When is Eucosma pupillana active?
Eucosma pupillana: seasonal activity - The adult moths fly in July and August..
What is the life cycle of a Eucosma pupillana?
The larval foodplant is Wormwood, the larvae feeding inside the stems and roots.