Orthotaenia undulana
This record describes Orthotaenia undulana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The moths emerge between May and July, occasionally later, and can be disturbed from the foliage, or attracted to light at night. It is a polyphagous species and the larvae are known to feed on a wide range of trees and plants. The species is distributed widely throughout the British Isles and is fairly frequent in many areas. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Olethreutini
- Genus
- Orthotaenia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Woodlands, dunes and moors.
Seasonal Activity
The moths emerge between May and July, occasionally later, and can be disturbed from the foliage, or attracted to light at night.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
It is a polyphagous species and the larvae are known to feed on a wide range of trees and plants.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The species is distributed widely throughout the British Isles and is fairly frequent in many areas. 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 Orthotaenia undulana. 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 Orthotaenia undulana (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Orthotaenia undulana
What is Orthotaenia undulana?
Orthotaenia undulana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Orthotaenia undulana found?
Habitat: Woodlands, dunes and moors.
When is Orthotaenia undulana active?
Orthotaenia undulana: seasonal activity - The moths emerge between May and July, occasionally later, and can be disturbed from the foliage, or attracted to light at night..
What is the life cycle of a Orthotaenia undulana?
It is a polyphagous species and the larvae are known to feed on a wide range of trees and plants.