Pancalia leuwenhoekella
This record describes Pancalia leuwenhoekella (species). Recorded family: Cosmopterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 10 to 12mm. This moth is very difficult to differentiate from its close relative Pancalia schwarzella , with forewing differences relating to the angulation of the lines and antennae colour and size. In leuwenhoekella , the antennae in both sexes have a broad subapical white section. In schwarzella , the male antenna is brown; the female antenna has a thickened area in the middle before the white section. Adults fly in sunshine from April to June. The larvae feed on Hairy Violet or Dog-violet. The moth is locally frequent in southern England, and sparsely distributed throughout the rest of the UK. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
Wikipedia reference for Pancalia leuwenhoekella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancalia_leuwenhoekella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Cosmopterigidae (Cosmet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Antequerinae
- Genus
- Pancalia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Chalk and limestone areas.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly in sunshine from April to June.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Hairy Violet or Dog-violet.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The moth is locally frequent in southern England, and sparsely distributed throughout the rest of the UK. 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 Pancalia leuwenhoekella. 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 Pancalia leuwenhoekella (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Pancalia leuwenhoekella
What is Pancalia leuwenhoekella?
Pancalia leuwenhoekella is a species in the family Cosmopterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Pancalia leuwenhoekella found?
Habitat: Chalk and limestone areas.
When is Pancalia leuwenhoekella active?
Pancalia leuwenhoekella: seasonal activity - Adults fly in sunshine from April to June..
What is the life cycle of a Pancalia leuwenhoekella?
The larvae feed on Hairy Violet or Dog-violet.