Honeysuckle Moth
Ypsolopha dentella
This record describes Ypsolopha dentella (species). Recorded family: Ypsolophidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 18 to 23 mm. The upturned wingtips are typical of several other moths in this genus, but are more marked in this species. Around Honeysuckle, the larval foodplant. This small but distinctive moth flies in July and August and is attracted to light. As the English name suggests, the larval foodplant is honeysuckle (Lonicera). The young caterpillars are inconspicuous, and as they grow, they change to an attractive purple and green colour which affords surprisingly good camouflage amongst honeysuckle leaves. The pupa is inside a long, spindle-shaped cocoon typical of the genus. A fairly common species throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Ypsolopha dentella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ypsolopha_dentella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Yponomeutoidea
- Family
- Ypsolophidae
- Genus
- Ypsolopha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around Honeysuckle, the larval foodplant.
Seasonal Activity
This small but distinctive moth flies in July and August and is attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
As the English name suggests, the larval foodplant is honeysuckle (Lonicera). The young caterpillars are inconspicuous, and as they grow, they change to an attractive purple and green colour which affords surprisingly good camouflage amongst honeysuckle leaves. The pupa is inside a long, spindle-shaped cocoon typical of the genus.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A fairly common species throughout Britain. 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 Ypsolopha dentella. 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 Honeysuckle Moth (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Honeysuckle Moth
What is Honeysuckle Moth?
Honeysuckle Moth (Ypsolopha dentella) is a species in the family Ypsolophidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Honeysuckle Moth found?
Habitat: Around Honeysuckle, the larval foodplant.
When is Honeysuckle Moth active?
Honeysuckle Moth: seasonal activity - This small but distinctive moth flies in July and August and is attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Honeysuckle Moth?
As the English name suggests, the larval foodplant is honeysuckle (Lonicera). The young caterpillars are inconspicuous, and as they grow, they change to an attractive purple and green colour which affords surprisingly good camouflage amongst honeysuckle leaves. The pupa is inside a long, spindle-shaped cocoon typical of the genus.