Lobesia littoralis
This record describes Lobesia littoralis (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Generally a coastal species, this moth can also be found inland in gardens, due to its foodplant preference for Thrift. The species has two generations, with moths emerging in June and July, and again in September. The adults can be seen in late afternoon around the foodplant, and later are attracted to light. The larvae feed on the flowerheads and seeds of the foodplant Thrift, as well as Bird's-foot trefoil. It is widely but locally distributed in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Lobesia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Generally a coastal species, this moth can also be found inland in gardens, due to its foodplant preference for Thrift.
Seasonal Activity
The species has two generations, with moths emerging in June and July, and again in September. The adults can be seen in late afternoon around the foodplant, and later are attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on the flowerheads and seeds of the foodplant Thrift, as well as Bird's-foot trefoil.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is widely but locally distributed in Britain. 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 Lobesia littoralis. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lobesia littoralis
What is Lobesia littoralis?
Lobesia littoralis is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Lobesia littoralis found?
Habitat: Generally a coastal species, this moth can also be found inland in gardens, due to its foodplant preference for Thrift.
When is Lobesia littoralis active?
Lobesia littoralis: seasonal activity - The species has two generations, with moths emerging in June and July, and again in September. The adults can be seen in late afternoon around the foodplant, and later are attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Lobesia littoralis?
The larvae feed on the flowerheads and seeds of the foodplant Thrift, as well as Bird's-foot trefoil.