Pyrausta despicata
This record describes Pyrausta despicata (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 14 to19 mm. The plainest-looking of our native Pyrausta species. This moth occupies suitably chalky and limestone habitats. It is double-brooded, with flight periods in May and June, and later in July and August. The larvae feed on Ribwort Plantain and Greater Plantain, often in groups, in silken galleries. Found in suitable habitats throughout the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservations Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. No additional images available for this species.
Wikipedia reference for Pyrausta despicata: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrausta despicata.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Pyraustinae
- Tribe
- Pyraustini
- Genus
- Pyrausta (Mint Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
This moth occupies suitably chalky and limestone habitats.
Seasonal Activity
It is double-brooded, with flight periods in May and June, and later in July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Ribwort Plantain and Greater Plantain, often in groups, in silken galleries.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Found in suitable habitats throughout the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservations Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pyrausta despicata. 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 Pyrausta despicata (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Pyrausta despicata
What is Pyrausta despicata?
Pyrausta despicata is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Pyrausta despicata found?
Habitat: This moth occupies suitably chalky and limestone habitats.
When is Pyrausta despicata active?
Pyrausta despicata: seasonal activity - It is double-brooded, with flight periods in May and June, and later in July and August..
What is the life cycle of a Pyrausta despicata?
The larvae feed on Ribwort Plantain and Greater Plantain, often in groups, in silken galleries.