Pea Moth
Cydia nigricana
This record describes Cydia nigricana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 12 to 16 mm. The adults are rather nondescript in appearance. The mainly brown wings have two or three short black dashes and other russet and white marks below. Around plants of the pea family including Common Vetch where it is plentiful. Between May and August, and can be found on the wing in sunshine, as well as at night. Quite often a pest of cultivated and garden peas and various related Leguminosae , the larvae of this moth feed internally in the pods, eating away the peas themselves. Its distribution ranges over much of mainland Britain, more plentifully in the south, and locally in Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Grapholitini
- Genus
- Cydia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around plants of the pea family including Common Vetch where it is plentiful.
Seasonal Activity
Between May and August, and can be found on the wing in sunshine, as well as at night.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Quite often a pest of cultivated and garden peas and various related
Additional species information
Recorded status
Its distribution ranges over much of mainland Britain, more plentifully in the south, and locally in Ireland. 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 Cydia nigricana. 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 Pea Moth (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Pea Moth
What is Pea Moth?
Pea Moth (Cydia nigricana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Pea Moth found?
Habitat: Around plants of the pea family including Common Vetch where it is plentiful.
When is Pea Moth active?
Pea Moth: seasonal activity - Between May and August, and can be found on the wing in sunshine, as well as at night..
What is the life cycle of a Pea Moth?
Quite often a pest of cultivated and garden peas and various related