Grapholita pallifrontana
This record describes Grapholita pallifrontana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
It is similar in appearance to Grapholita internana and care must be taken with identification. This is a rare species in VC55 and records must be supported by good photographs. If your record is not of a moth in association with its foodplant gen det may be necessary. Strongly associated with Wild Liquorice. Most frequent in chalk districts where the larval foodplant is present but only likely to be encountered when the sun is shining. Adult moths fly from late May to July, the males fly on sunny afternoons. The larvae feed on Wild Liquorice during July and August, consuming the pods and the seeds within. A very local species, occurring mostly in the southern counties of England, and possibly declining. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as pRDB3. No additional images available for this species.
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
Strongly associated with Wild Liquorice. Most frequent in chalk districts where the larval foodplant is present but only likely to be encountered when the sun is shining.
Seasonal Activity
Adult moths fly from late May to July, the males fly on sunny afternoons.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Wild Liquorice during July and August, consuming the pods and the seeds within.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A very local species, occurring mostly in the southern counties of England, and possibly declining. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as pRDB3.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Grapholita pallifrontana. 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 pallifrontana (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Grapholita pallifrontana
What is Grapholita pallifrontana?
Grapholita pallifrontana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Grapholita pallifrontana found?
Habitat: Strongly associated with Wild Liquorice. Most frequent in chalk districts where the larval foodplant is present but only likely to be encountered when the sun is shining.
When is Grapholita pallifrontana active?
Grapholita pallifrontana: seasonal activity - Adult moths fly from late May to July, the males fly on sunny afternoons..
What is the life cycle of a Grapholita pallifrontana?
The larvae feed on Wild Liquorice during July and August, consuming the pods and the seeds within.