Hemp-agrimony Plume
Adaina microdactyla
This record describes Adaina microdactyla (species). Recorded family: Pterophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 13 to 17 mm. The smallest of the British Pterophoridae which is pale buff in colour. The larvae gall the stems of Hemp-agrimony and the species is probably most easily recorded by recording the galls or exit holes in the host plant. Adult: Records must include a photograph and note of size. Gall: please include a photograph of the gall or exit hole and state the host plant. Damp places where Hemp-agrimony is present. The species is double-brooded, being on the wing in May and June, then again in August. The larval foodplant is Hemp-agrimony, feeding in the stems and forming a gall. It is relatively common in the south of England, becoming less so further north into southern Scotland; scarce in Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Pterophoridae
- Genus
- Adaina
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Damp places where Hemp-agrimony is present.
Seasonal Activity
The species is double-brooded, being on the wing in May and June, then again in August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larval foodplant is Hemp-agrimony, feeding in the stems and forming a gall.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is relatively common in the south of England, becoming less so further north into southern Scotland; scarce in Ireland. 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 Adaina microdactyla. 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 Hemp-agrimony Plume (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Hemp-agrimony Plume
What is Hemp-agrimony Plume?
Hemp-agrimony Plume (Adaina microdactyla) is a species in the family Pterophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Hemp-agrimony Plume found?
Habitat: Damp places where Hemp-agrimony is present.
When is Hemp-agrimony Plume active?
Hemp-agrimony Plume: seasonal activity - The species is double-brooded, being on the wing in May and June, then again in August..
What is the life cycle of a Hemp-agrimony Plume?
The larval foodplant is Hemp-agrimony, feeding in the stems and forming a gall.