Incurvaria praelatella
This record describes Incurvaria praelatella (species). Recorded family: Incurvariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 11 to 14 mm. This moth is characterised by the whitish markings against a bronzy-purple background colour, with a noticeable pale streak at the base of the wing and a yellowish head. The moths fly in sunshine during May and June. The larvae feed on Roseaceous plants such as Wild Strawberry and Water Avens. It is fairly well distributed throughout much of Britain and Ireland, and can be locally frequent. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Wikipedia reference for Incurvaria praelatella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incurvaria_praelatella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Incurvariidae
- Genus
- Incurvaria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
A woodland species.
Seasonal Activity
The moths fly in sunshine during May and June.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Roseaceous plants such as Wild Strawberry and Water Avens.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is fairly well distributed throughout much of Britain and Ireland, and can be locally frequent. 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 Incurvaria praelatella. 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 Incurvaria praelatella (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Incurvaria praelatella
What is Incurvaria praelatella?
Incurvaria praelatella is a species in the family Incurvariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Incurvaria praelatella found?
Habitat: A woodland species.
When is Incurvaria praelatella active?
Incurvaria praelatella: seasonal activity - The moths fly in sunshine during May and June..
What is the life cycle of a Incurvaria praelatella?
The larvae feed on Roseaceous plants such as Wild Strawberry and Water Avens.