Grapholita janthinana
This record describes Grapholita janthinana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 9-11 mm. A small moth with a mottling of browns, oranges and greys. This moth flies during the afternoon and early evening and is at large during July and early August. The larva feeds in the berries of Hawthorn, spinning two or three berries together with silk. The larva then leaves the spinning and spends the winter in a cocoon before pupating. Distributed mainly in the southern half of England. 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
Hedgerows, gardens and woodland edges.
Seasonal Activity
This moth flies during the afternoon and early evening and is at large during July and early August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva feeds in the berries of Hawthorn, spinning two or three berries together with silk. The larva then leaves the spinning and spends the winter in a cocoon before pupating.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Distributed mainly in the southern half of England. 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 janthinana. 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 janthinana (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Grapholita janthinana
What is Grapholita janthinana?
Grapholita janthinana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Grapholita janthinana found?
Habitat: Hedgerows, gardens and woodland edges.
When is Grapholita janthinana active?
Grapholita janthinana: seasonal activity - This moth flies during the afternoon and early evening and is at large during July and early August..
What is the life cycle of a Grapholita janthinana?
The larva feeds in the berries of Hawthorn, spinning two or three berries together with silk. The larva then leaves the spinning and spends the winter in a cocoon before pupating.