Nut Bud Moth
Epinotia tenerana
This record describes Epinotia tenerana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 12 to16 mm. This is a small rust brown Tortrix , some specimens being darker than others. Woodland and damp areas, particularly where the food plants are present. Flies from dusk onwards and is on the wing from July to early October. They can sometimes be found resting on the foliage of the foodplants during the day. The larvae feed on Hazel and Alder, feeding at first on the catkins and then later by burrowing into the leaf buds. Fairly frequent and widespread throughout 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
- Epinotia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Woodland and damp areas, particularly where the food plants are present.
Seasonal Activity
Flies from dusk onwards and is on the wing from July to early October. They can sometimes be found resting on the foliage of the foodplants during the day.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Hazel and Alder, feeding at first on the catkins and then later by burrowing into the leaf buds.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly frequent and widespread 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 Epinotia tenerana. 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 Nut Bud Moth (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Nut Bud Moth
What is Nut Bud Moth?
Nut Bud Moth (Epinotia tenerana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Nut Bud Moth found?
Habitat: Woodland and damp areas, particularly where the food plants are present.
When is Nut Bud Moth active?
Nut Bud Moth: seasonal activity - Flies from dusk onwards and is on the wing from July to early October. They can sometimes be found resting on the foliage of the foodplants during the day..
What is the life cycle of a Nut Bud Moth?
The larvae feed on Hazel and Alder, feeding at first on the catkins and then later by burrowing into the leaf buds.