Ptycholoma lecheana
This record describes Ptycholoma lecheana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 16-20 mm. Quite a distinctive species with a dark brownish ground colour, variously suffused with yellowish scales and patches of metallic silver. The larvae feed inside the rolled leaves of a variety of trees and shrubs. It is distributed throughout England and Wales becoming scarcer further north into Scotland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Ptycholoma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Woodland and orchards.
Seasonal Activity
June to July is the main flight period.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed inside the rolled leaves of a variety of trees and shrubs.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is distributed throughout England and Wales becoming scarcer further north into Scotland. 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 Ptycholoma lecheana. 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 Ptycholoma lecheana (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Ptycholoma lecheana
What is Ptycholoma lecheana?
Ptycholoma lecheana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Ptycholoma lecheana found?
Habitat: Woodland and orchards.
When is Ptycholoma lecheana active?
Ptycholoma lecheana: seasonal activity - June to July is the main flight period..
What is the life cycle of a Ptycholoma lecheana?
The larvae feed inside the rolled leaves of a variety of trees and shrubs.