Hedya salicella
This record describes Hedya salicella (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 19-24 mm. A large and distinctive Hedya species, showing large areas of white and a distinctive chestnut and grey crest on the thorax. Various habitats and especially where the food plants are present. The moth flies from June through August and can be attracted to light. The larvae feed in spun leaves of Willow and Poplar The species is fairly well distributed in England and Wales. 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
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Olethreutini
- Genus
- Hedya
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various habitats and especially where the food plants are present.
Seasonal Activity
The moth flies from June through August and can be attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed in spun leaves of Willow and Poplar
Additional species information
Recorded status
The species is fairly well distributed in England and Wales. 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 Hedya salicella. 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 Hedya salicella (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Hedya salicella
What is Hedya salicella?
Hedya salicella is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Hedya salicella found?
Habitat: Various habitats and especially where the food plants are present.
When is Hedya salicella active?
Hedya salicella: seasonal activity - The moth flies from June through August and can be attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Hedya salicella?
The larvae feed in spun leaves of Willow and Poplar