Pammene fasciana
This record describes Pammene fasciana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 13-17 mm. An attractive species which, when fresh, shows a series of bluish metallic and tawny markings with a rosy flush to the whitish ground colour. Various habitats, particularly well wooded areas containing Oak or Sweet Chestnut. The moths fly in June and July and are partially diurnal with the males in particular flying at sunrise and in the afternoon. The larvae feed internally in the acorns of Oak and the nuts of Sweet Chestnut. Widely distributed throughout Britain, it is commonest in the south, becoming gradually scarcer further north. 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
- Pammene
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various habitats, particularly well wooded areas containing Oak or Sweet Chestnut.
Seasonal Activity
The moths fly in June and July and are partially diurnal with the males in particular flying at sunrise and in the afternoon.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed internally in the acorns of Oak and the nuts of Sweet Chestnut.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widely distributed throughout Britain, it is commonest in the south, becoming gradually scarcer further north. 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 Pammene fasciana. 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 Pammene fasciana (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Pammene fasciana
What is Pammene fasciana?
Pammene fasciana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Pammene fasciana found?
Habitat: Various habitats, particularly well wooded areas containing Oak or Sweet Chestnut.
When is Pammene fasciana active?
Pammene fasciana: seasonal activity - The moths fly in June and July and are partially diurnal with the males in particular flying at sunrise and in the afternoon..
What is the life cycle of a Pammene fasciana?
The larvae feed internally in the acorns of Oak and the nuts of Sweet Chestnut.