Lesser Bud Moth - Hodges#1783
Recurvaria nanella
This record describes Recurvaria nanella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Gelechiinae
- Tribe
- Litini
- Genus
- Recurvaria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Seasonal Activity
Flies in July and August
Diet and Behavior
Diet: feeds on apple ( Malus ), pear ( Pyrus ) and also Prunus .
Life History
The larva mines a leaf when young, later feeding inside a bud after hibernating.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin nanus meaning "dwarf."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Recurvaria nanella. 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 Lesser Bud Moth - Hodges#1783 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Lesser Bud Moth - Hodges#1783
How big is Lesser Bud Moth - Hodges#1783?
Wingspan c. 12 mm.
What does Lesser Bud Moth - Hodges#1783 eat?
The diet of the Lesser Bud Moth - Hodges#1783 includes feeds on apple ( Malus ), pear ( Pyrus ) and also Prunus ..
When is Lesser Bud Moth - Hodges#1783 active?
Lesser Bud Moth - Hodges#1783: seasonal activity - Flies in July and August.
What is the life cycle of a Lesser Bud Moth - Hodges#1783?
The larva mines a leaf when young, later feeding inside a bud after hibernating.