Grapholita lunulana
This record describes Grapholita lunulana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 11 to 17 mm. The white crescent shape wing marking in distinctive. Good photograph required. Please retain specimen until identification is confirmed. In view of the scarcity of this species in VC55 any records should be supported by photographs. Found in a variety of habitats such as hedgerows, rough pasture and hillsides. It can be found flying in the sunshine in May and June. This moth has a mainly northern distribution in Britain, being found also in coastal counties in North Wales. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.
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 a variety of habitats such as hedgerows, rough pasture and hillsides.
Seasonal Activity
It can be found flying in the sunshine in May and June.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This moth has a mainly northern distribution in Britain, being found also in coastal counties in North Wales. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Grapholita lunulana. 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 lunulana (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Grapholita lunulana
What is Grapholita lunulana?
Grapholita lunulana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Grapholita lunulana found?
Habitat: Found in a variety of habitats such as hedgerows, rough pasture and hillsides.
When is Grapholita lunulana active?
Grapholita lunulana: seasonal activity - It can be found flying in the sunshine in May and June..