Eudonia pallida
This record describes Eudonia pallida (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan around 18 mm. The palest of the British Scopariinae and quite distinctive, although care must be taken not to confuse small, worn specimens of related species. 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 Various habitats but it prefers damp situations such as fens or marshes. The adults fly in a single generation during June and July. In common with a number of other British Pyralidae , the early stages are not well described but it is believed to feed on mosses or lichens at ground level. It has been reared from larvae amongst the moss. Distributed widely throughout the British Isles though not common. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
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
Various habitats but it prefers damp situations such as fens or marshes.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in a single generation during June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
In common with a number of other British
Additional species information
Recorded status
Distributed widely throughout the British Isles though not common. 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 Eudonia pallida. 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 pallida (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Eudonia pallida
What is Eudonia pallida?
Eudonia pallida is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Eudonia pallida found?
Habitat: Various habitats but it prefers damp situations such as fens or marshes.
When is Eudonia pallida active?
Eudonia pallida: seasonal activity - The adults fly in a single generation during June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Eudonia pallida?
In common with a number of other British