Eudonia mercurella
This record describes Eudonia mercurella (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 16-19 mm. Its similarity to several other species makes it difficult to identify. Scopariinae are a difficult group to identify and sometimes it is necessary to refer to genitalia to be sure. A useful guide can be found at the following LINK The adults, which are easily attracted to light, fly at night from June to September but can be disturbed from their daytime resting places of tree trunks and rocks etc. The larvae, like many of its congeners, feed on mosses growing on tree trunks and walls. A common species in most of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Crambidae
- Genus
- Eudonia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Woodland, parks and gardens.
Seasonal Activity
The adults, which are easily attracted to light, fly at night from June to September but can be disturbed from their daytime resting places of tree trunks and rocks etc.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae, like many of its congeners, feed on mosses growing on tree trunks and walls.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A common species in most of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eudonia mercurella. 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 Eudonia mercurella (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Eudonia mercurella
What is Eudonia mercurella?
Eudonia mercurella is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Eudonia mercurella found?
Habitat: Woodland, parks and gardens.
When is Eudonia mercurella active?
Eudonia mercurella: seasonal activity - The adults, which are easily attracted to light, fly at night from June to September but can be disturbed from their daytime resting places of tree trunks and rocks etc..
What is the life cycle of a Eudonia mercurella?
The larvae, like many of its congeners, feed on mosses growing on tree trunks and walls.