Gypsonoma dealbana
This record describes Gypsonoma dealbana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 11-14 mm. This species can be distinguished from other Gypsonoma species by the creamy-white patch on the front of the head, which is pure white in G. sociana and darker on others. The larvae mine the midrib of various species of trees and shrubs, commonly willows, sallows or oak, but may be other species. The larva then feeds from a silken tube crusted with frass, on the underside of the leaf beside the midrib, retreating into the midrib when disturbed. The larva is pale grey or yellowish-cream in colour. The normal flight period is July and August when the moths fly from dusk onwards. The larvae feed on a range of deciduous trees, windowing leaves in autumn and eating the buds, catkins, young shoots and then spun leaves in the spring. It is widely distributed over England, Wales and Ireland, though commoner in the south. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/G.dealbana.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/apoditrysia/tortricoidea/tortricidae/olethreutinae/eucosmini/gypsonoma/gypsonoma-dealbana/#:~:text=parasite,bores%20into%20buds%20or%20catkins.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Gypsonoma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Well wooded areas
Seasonal Activity
The normal flight period is July and August when the moths fly from dusk onwards.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a range of deciduous trees, windowing leaves in autumn and eating the buds, catkins, young shoots and then spun leaves in the spring.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is widely distributed over England, Wales and Ireland, though commoner in the south. 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 Gypsonoma dealbana. 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 Gypsonoma dealbana (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Gypsonoma dealbana
What is Gypsonoma dealbana?
Gypsonoma dealbana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Gypsonoma dealbana found?
Habitat: Well wooded areas
When is Gypsonoma dealbana active?
Gypsonoma dealbana: seasonal activity - The normal flight period is July and August when the moths fly from dusk onwards..
What is the life cycle of a Gypsonoma dealbana?
The larvae feed on a range of deciduous trees, windowing leaves in autumn and eating the buds, catkins, young shoots and then spun leaves in the spring.