Small Goldenrod Plume
Hellinsia osteodactylus
This record describes Hellinsia osteodactylus (species). Recorded family: Pterophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 16 to 23 mm. A very pale species with a slight brown costal dash and a dark spot at the base of the wing. It inhabits open woodland areas, and some coastal habitats. The adults fly from dusk in July, and come to light. The larvae feed on the flowers and seed-heads of Goldenrod and Ragwort. A local species, but widely distributed in central England, southern Scotland and parts of north Wales. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Pterophoridae
- Genus
- Hellinsia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It inhabits open woodland areas, and some coastal habitats.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly from dusk in July, and come to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on the flowers and seed-heads of Goldenrod and Ragwort.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A local species, but widely distributed in central England, southern Scotland and parts of north Wales. 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 Hellinsia osteodactylus. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Small Goldenrod Plume
What is Small Goldenrod Plume?
Small Goldenrod Plume (Hellinsia osteodactylus) is a species in the family Pterophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Small Goldenrod Plume found?
Habitat: It inhabits open woodland areas, and some coastal habitats.
When is Small Goldenrod Plume active?
Small Goldenrod Plume: seasonal activity - The adults fly from dusk in July, and come to light..
What is the life cycle of a Small Goldenrod Plume?
The larvae feed on the flowers and seed-heads of Goldenrod and Ragwort.