Phtheochroa rugosana
This record describes Phtheochroa rugosana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 16-20 mm. It is noticeable for a number of 'tufts'. It is on the wing during May and June and flies around dusk. During the day it relies on camouflage, taking on the appearance of a bird-dropping. The larvae feed on White Bryony. Distributed mainly in southern England becoming scarcer further north into the Midlands. 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
- Phtheochroa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Woodland species
Seasonal Activity
It is on the wing during May and June and flies around dusk.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
During the day it relies on camouflage, taking on the appearance of a bird-dropping. The larvae feed on White Bryony.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Distributed mainly in southern England becoming scarcer further north into the Midlands. 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 Phtheochroa rugosana. 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 Phtheochroa rugosana (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Phtheochroa rugosana
What is Phtheochroa rugosana?
Phtheochroa rugosana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Phtheochroa rugosana found?
Habitat: Woodland species
When is Phtheochroa rugosana active?
Phtheochroa rugosana: seasonal activity - It is on the wing during May and June and flies around dusk..
What is the life cycle of a Phtheochroa rugosana?
During the day it relies on camouflage, taking on the appearance of a bird-dropping. The larvae feed on White Bryony.