Ptycholomoides aeriferana
This record describes Ptycholomoides aeriferana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 17 to 21 mm. This can be quite a beautiful species with rich red-browns and gold. Various habitats especially areas where the larval food plant is present. The moths fly in July and August, and are attracted to light. The food plant is European Larch, the larvae spinning the needles together. Since its first discovery in Kent in 1951, it has quickly spread throughout a large part of England and is still expanding its range Northwards. 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
- Ptycholomoides
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various habitats especially areas where the larval food plant is present.
Seasonal Activity
The moths fly in July and August, and are attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The food plant is European Larch, the larvae spinning the needles together.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Since its first discovery in Kent in 1951, it has quickly spread throughout a large part of England and is still expanding its range Northwards. 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 Ptycholomoides aeriferana. 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 Ptycholomoides aeriferana (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Ptycholomoides aeriferana
What is Ptycholomoides aeriferana?
Ptycholomoides aeriferana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Ptycholomoides aeriferana found?
Habitat: Various habitats especially areas where the larval food plant is present.
When is Ptycholomoides aeriferana active?
Ptycholomoides aeriferana: seasonal activity - The moths fly in July and August, and are attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Ptycholomoides aeriferana?
The food plant is European Larch, the larvae spinning the needles together.