Light Grey Tortrix
Cnephasia incertana
This record describes Cnephasia incertana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 14 to18mm. One of several similar Cnephasia species but also one of the smallest. The habitat preference is for woodland edges and hedgerows. The adults are at large during June and July. The overwintering larvae feed in a spinning on a range of herbaceous plants such as plantain and sorrel. Fairly frequent and widespread in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Cnephasia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
The habitat preference is for woodland edges and hedgerows.
Seasonal Activity
The adults are at large during June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The overwintering larvae feed in a spinning on a range of herbaceous plants such as plantain and sorrel.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly frequent and widespread in 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 Cnephasia incertana. 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 Light Grey Tortrix (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Light Grey Tortrix
What is Light Grey Tortrix?
Light Grey Tortrix (Cnephasia incertana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Light Grey Tortrix found?
Habitat: The habitat preference is for woodland edges and hedgerows.
When is Light Grey Tortrix active?
Light Grey Tortrix: seasonal activity - The adults are at large during June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Light Grey Tortrix?
The overwintering larvae feed in a spinning on a range of herbaceous plants such as plantain and sorrel.