Grapholita compositella
This record describes Grapholita compositella (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 9-10 mm. A small but very attractive Tortricid , being all dark except for four long white strigulae on the dorsum and eight short ones on the leading forewing edge. There is also a leaden metallic patch, or ocellus towards the rear of the wing. The moths can be found flying by day and are on the wing in May and June and again in August. The larvae feed on Clover, either in the stems or in spun leaves. The species is widely distributed over the British Isles and can be common in places. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Grapholita
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Found in short grassy habitats.
Seasonal Activity
The moths can be found flying by day and are on the wing in May and June and again in August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Clover, either in the stems or in spun leaves.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The species is widely distributed over the British Isles and can be common in places. 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 Grapholita compositella. 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 Grapholita compositella (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Grapholita compositella
What is Grapholita compositella?
Grapholita compositella is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Grapholita compositella found?
Habitat: Found in short grassy habitats.
When is Grapholita compositella active?
Grapholita compositella: seasonal activity - The moths can be found flying by day and are on the wing in May and June and again in August..
What is the life cycle of a Grapholita compositella?
The larvae feed on Clover, either in the stems or in spun leaves.