Grey Tortrix
Cnephasia stephensiana
This record describes Cnephasia stephensiana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 18 to 22 mm. As its English name suggests, this is quite a greyish-brown moth. Specimens from the southern part of the British Isles are often darker than those from further north and Scotland, some of which have an almost whitish ground colour. It can be found in a variety of habitats. Flying during July and August from dusk onwards. The larvae feed on a range of herbaceous plants. Fairly frequent and widespread in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tortricinae
- Tribe
- Cnephasiini
- Genus
- Cnephasia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It can be found in a variety of habitats.
Seasonal Activity
Flying during July and August from dusk onwards.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a range of herbaceous plants.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly frequent and widespread in Britain. 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 Cnephasia stephensiana. 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 Grey Tortrix (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Grey Tortrix
What is Grey Tortrix?
Grey Tortrix (Cnephasia stephensiana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Grey Tortrix found?
Habitat: It can be found in a variety of habitats.
When is Grey Tortrix active?
Grey Tortrix: seasonal activity - Flying during July and August from dusk onwards..
What is the life cycle of a Grey Tortrix?
The larvae feed on a range of herbaceous plants.