LepidopteraTortricidae – Tortricid Moths

European Grapevine Moth - Hodges#2729.1

Lobesia botrana

This record describes Lobesia botrana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Tortricoidea
Family
Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
Subfamily
Olethreutinae
Tribe
Olethreutini
Genus
Lobesia

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Widely distributed in Europe, Central Asia, and parts of Africa. It has been recently discovered in California.

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Larvae feed on the flowers and fruit of grape and certain other plants. It is considered a major vineyard pest in its native range.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Lobesia botrana. 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions About European Grapevine Moth - Hodges#2729.1

How big is European Grapevine Moth - Hodges#2729.1?

FWL ≈ 4.5-8.0 mm

Where is European Grapevine Moth - Hodges#2729.1 found?

Range: Widely distributed in Europe, Central Asia, and parts of Africa. It has been recently discovered in California.

What does European Grapevine Moth - Hodges#2729.1 eat?

The diet of the European Grapevine Moth - Hodges#2729.1 includes Larvae feed on the flowers and fruit of grape and certain other plants. It is considered a major vineyard pest in its native range..