Pseudococcyx posticana
This record describes Pseudococcyx posticana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The colouration of this moth is a mix of silvery grey and chestnut brown. Pseudococcyx posticana is a pine loving species. On the wing during May and June. It becomes active towards evening, resting among the foliage by day. The larvae attack the shoots of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) causing the affected shoot to arrest its development. It is distributed widely but thinly over much of the British Isles and frequents heathland and coniferous woods. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Pseudococcyx
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Pseudococcyx posticana is a pine loving species.
Seasonal Activity
On the wing during May and June. It becomes active towards evening, resting among the foliage by day.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae attack the shoots of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) causing the affected shoot to arrest its development.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is distributed widely but thinly over much of the British Isles and frequents heathland and coniferous woods. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pseudococcyx posticana. 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 Pseudococcyx posticana
What is Pseudococcyx posticana?
Pseudococcyx posticana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Pseudococcyx posticana found?
Habitat: Pseudococcyx posticana is a pine loving species.
When is Pseudococcyx posticana active?
Pseudococcyx posticana: seasonal activity - On the wing during May and June. It becomes active towards evening, resting among the foliage by day..
What is the life cycle of a Pseudococcyx posticana?
The larvae attack the shoots of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) causing the affected shoot to arrest its development.