Grapholita tenebrosana
This record describes Grapholita tenebrosana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 12 - 14 mm. This is a small purple brown species, it sometimes shows a reddish tinge. It can easily be confused with Grapholita funebrana . They can be separated by the colour of the palps; dull greyish brown in G. funebrana, greyish white on G. tenebrosana . The genitalia of the males are distinct. Well vegetated areas containing Dog Rose The moths fly at night and in sunshine in June and July, usually high over Rose bushes. Records are more easily made by search for larvae in Rose hips The larvae feed in August and September on the hips of Dog Rose and other species of Rose and occasionally the fruits of Rowan This species is widespread in Britain but is not frequently recorded. This may because it does not come readily to light. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
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
Well vegetated areas containing Dog Rose
Seasonal Activity
The moths fly at night and in sunshine in June and July, usually high over Rose bushes. Records are more easily made by search for larvae in Rose hips
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed in August and September on the hips of Dog Rose and other species of Rose and occasionally the fruits of Rowan
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species is widespread in Britain but is not frequently recorded. This may because it does not come readily to light. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Grapholita tenebrosana. 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 tenebrosana (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Grapholita tenebrosana
What is Grapholita tenebrosana?
Grapholita tenebrosana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Grapholita tenebrosana found?
Habitat: Well vegetated areas containing Dog Rose
When is Grapholita tenebrosana active?
Grapholita tenebrosana: seasonal activity - The moths fly at night and in sunshine in June and July, usually high over Rose bushes. Records are more easily made by search for larvae in Rose hips.
What is the life cycle of a Grapholita tenebrosana?
The larvae feed in August and September on the hips of Dog Rose and other species of Rose and occasionally the fruits of Rowan