Grapholita jungiella
This record describes Grapholita jungiella (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 10-13 mm. The moths fly low over the foodplants in sunshine and have conspicuously white hindwings. A springtime species, flying in April and May in the north, whilst in the south a later second generation also occurs. The larvae feed on Bitter Vetch and Bush Vetch, spinning the leaves together or living inside the seed pods. It is a reasonably common species over much of the British Isles. 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
Woodland, downland and scrub.
Seasonal Activity
A springtime species, flying in April and May in the north, whilst in the south a later second generation also occurs.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Bitter Vetch and Bush Vetch, spinning the leaves together or living inside the seed pods.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is a reasonably common species over much of the British Isles. 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 jungiella. 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 jungiella (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Grapholita jungiella
What is Grapholita jungiella?
Grapholita jungiella is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Grapholita jungiella found?
Habitat: Woodland, downland and scrub.
When is Grapholita jungiella active?
Grapholita jungiella: seasonal activity - A springtime species, flying in April and May in the north, whilst in the south a later second generation also occurs..
What is the life cycle of a Grapholita jungiella?
The larvae feed on Bitter Vetch and Bush Vetch, spinning the leaves together or living inside the seed pods.