Gravitarmata margarotana
This record describes Gravitarmata margarotana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
A migrant. Abroad it favours areas where the larval foodplants are found. Typically it is on the wing on the continent in April and May. The larval host plants are various coniferous trees including pine and spruce. The first record of this species for Britain was netted in Kent in May 2011. The Dadlington record may be only the second record of this species in Britain. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Gravitarmata
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
A migrant. Abroad it favours areas where the larval foodplants are found.
Seasonal Activity
Typically it is on the wing on the continent in April and May.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larval host plants are various coniferous trees including pine and spruce.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The first record of this species for Britain was netted in Kent in May 2011. The Dadlington record may be only the second record of this species in Britain.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Gravitarmata margarotana. 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 Gravitarmata margarotana
What is Gravitarmata margarotana?
Gravitarmata margarotana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Gravitarmata margarotana found?
Habitat: A migrant. Abroad it favours areas where the larval foodplants are found.
When is Gravitarmata margarotana active?
Gravitarmata margarotana: seasonal activity - Typically it is on the wing on the continent in April and May..
What is the life cycle of a Gravitarmata margarotana?
The larval host plants are various coniferous trees including pine and spruce.