Fruitlet Mining Tortrix
Pammene rhediella
This record describes Pammene rhediella (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 11 mm. Predominantly a mix of chestnut and darker browns. Around areas containing Hawthorn or fruit trees. The adult moths fly from late April until June, especially in warm sunshine, around the tops of its host trees. The larvae feed in the spun flowers and fruit of Hawthorn or occasionally fruit such as Apple or Pear. This rather small species is commonest in central and southern England, becoming gradually scarcer further north into Scotland; also in Ireland. 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
- Pammene
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around areas containing Hawthorn or fruit trees.
Seasonal Activity
The adult moths fly from late April until June, especially in warm sunshine, around the tops of its host trees.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed in the spun flowers and fruit of Hawthorn or occasionally fruit such as Apple or Pear.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This rather small species is commonest in central and southern England, becoming gradually scarcer further north into Scotland; also in Ireland. 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 Pammene rhediella. 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 Fruitlet Mining Tortrix (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Fruitlet Mining Tortrix
What is Fruitlet Mining Tortrix?
Fruitlet Mining Tortrix (Pammene rhediella) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Fruitlet Mining Tortrix found?
Habitat: Around areas containing Hawthorn or fruit trees.
When is Fruitlet Mining Tortrix active?
Fruitlet Mining Tortrix: seasonal activity - The adult moths fly from late April until June, especially in warm sunshine, around the tops of its host trees..
What is the life cycle of a Fruitlet Mining Tortrix?
The larvae feed in the spun flowers and fruit of Hawthorn or occasionally fruit such as Apple or Pear.