Sclerocona acutellus
This record describes Sclerocona acutellus (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan about 28 mm. Quite distinctive, and unlikely to be confused with any other British species. An adventive species, believed to have been introduced with reeds imported from central Europe for thatching cottages, though it is possible that some are true migrants. The adult moths fly from June to August. The first record was from Hampshire in August 1988 and since then there have been a number of records, many of which have been in close proximity to newly-thatched cottages. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Migrant/Adventive. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Pyraustinae
- Tribe
- Pyraustini
- Genus
- Sclerocona
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
An adventive species, believed to have been introduced with reeds imported from central Europe for thatching cottages, though it is possible that some are true migrants.
Seasonal Activity
The adult moths fly from June to August.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The first record was from Hampshire in August 1988 and since then there have been a number of records, many of which have been in close proximity to newly-thatched cottages. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Migrant/Adventive.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Sclerocona acutellus. 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 Sclerocona acutellus
What is Sclerocona acutellus?
Sclerocona acutellus is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Sclerocona acutellus found?
Habitat: An adventive species, believed to have been introduced with reeds imported from central Europe for thatching cottages, though it is possible that some are true migrants.
When is Sclerocona acutellus active?
Sclerocona acutellus: seasonal activity - The adult moths fly from June to August..