Semioscopis steinkellneriana
This record describes Semioscopis steinkellneriana (species). Recorded family: Depressariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 22 mm. The distinctive wing markings make this one of the easier species to identify. This species flies very early in the morning, around sunrise. The adults are on the wing during April. The larvae feed on Blackthorn and Hawthorn. Widely but locally distributed in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Depressariidae
- Genus
- Semioscopis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It occurs in woodlands and gardens.
Seasonal Activity
This species flies very early in the morning, around sunrise. The adults are on the wing during April.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Blackthorn and Hawthorn.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widely but locally distributed in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Semioscopis steinkellneriana. 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 Semioscopis steinkellneriana (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Semioscopis steinkellneriana
What is Semioscopis steinkellneriana?
Semioscopis steinkellneriana is a species in the family Depressariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Semioscopis steinkellneriana found?
Habitat: It occurs in woodlands and gardens.
When is Semioscopis steinkellneriana active?
Semioscopis steinkellneriana: seasonal activity - This species flies very early in the morning, around sunrise. The adults are on the wing during April..
What is the life cycle of a Semioscopis steinkellneriana?
The larvae feed on Blackthorn and Hawthorn.