Phiaris schulziana
This record describes Phiaris schulziana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Good photograph required. Please retain the moth until identification is confirmed. A moorland species associated with Heather and Crowberry. Flying from June to August, it is easily disturbed during the day from the heather, and flies in the late afternoon and evening. This moth is commonest in the north of England, becoming less common north to Scotland, and scarce in the south of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Phiaris
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
A moorland species associated with Heather and Crowberry.
Seasonal Activity
Flying from June to August, it is easily disturbed during the day from the heather, and flies in the late afternoon and evening.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva feeds in a long tube.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This moth is commonest in the north of England, becoming less common north to Scotland, and scarce in the south of Britain. 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 Phiaris schulziana. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Phiaris schulziana
What is Phiaris schulziana?
Phiaris schulziana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Phiaris schulziana found?
Habitat: A moorland species associated with Heather and Crowberry.
When is Phiaris schulziana active?
Phiaris schulziana: seasonal activity - Flying from June to August, it is easily disturbed during the day from the heather, and flies in the late afternoon and evening..
What is the life cycle of a Phiaris schulziana?
Larva feeds in a long tube.