Hawthorn Moth
Scythropia crataegella
This record describes Scythropia crataegella (species). Recorded family: Scythropiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 11 to 15 mm. A small generally whitish moth, with dark markings which may vary in colour but often reddish. Around areas where the larval foodplants occur. This species is on the wing in June and July, when it can be attracted to light. The larvae feed communally in a silken web spun on Hawthorn after initially mining the leaves. Other foodplants include Blackthorn and Cotoneaster. Fairly common in the southern half of Britain but not occurring north of Yorkshire. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Scythropia crataegella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythropia crataegella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Yponomeutoidea
- Family
- Scythropiidae (Ermine Moths)
- Genus
- Scythropia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around areas where the larval foodplants occur.
Seasonal Activity
This species is on the wing in June and July, when it can be attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed communally in a silken web spun on Hawthorn after initially mining the leaves. Other foodplants include Blackthorn and Cotoneaster.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly common in the southern half of Britain but not occurring north of Yorkshire. 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 Scythropia crataegella. 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 Hawthorn Moth (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Hawthorn Moth
What is Hawthorn Moth?
Hawthorn Moth (Scythropia crataegella) is a species in the family Scythropiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Hawthorn Moth found?
Habitat: Around areas where the larval foodplants occur.
When is Hawthorn Moth active?
Hawthorn Moth: seasonal activity - This species is on the wing in June and July, when it can be attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Hawthorn Moth?
The larvae feed communally in a silken web spun on Hawthorn after initially mining the leaves. Other foodplants include Blackthorn and Cotoneaster.