Spatalistis bifasciana
This record describes Spatalistis bifasciana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 12 to 14 mm. The adults are quite distinctively marked, dark brown with yellowish in the terminal area and metallic blue-grey streaking. Much of the available literature suggests that the larvae feed internally in the berries or fruits of Buckthorn or Dogwood. However, more recent research suggests that this may not be the case, as larvae have been found amongst dead Oak and Sweet Chestnut leaves. Quite an uncommon species in the British Isles, S. bifasciana occurs locally in parts of southern England and south Wales. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Spatalistis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Woodland margins.
Seasonal Activity
May and June.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Much of the available literature suggests that the larvae feed internally in the berries or fruits of Buckthorn or Dogwood. However, more recent research suggests that this may not be the case, as larvae have been found amongst dead Oak and Sweet Chestnut leaves.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Quite an uncommon species in the British Isles,
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Spatalistis bifasciana. 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 Spatalistis bifasciana
What is Spatalistis bifasciana?
Spatalistis bifasciana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Spatalistis bifasciana found?
Habitat: Woodland margins.
When is Spatalistis bifasciana active?
Spatalistis bifasciana: seasonal activity - May and June..
What is the life cycle of a Spatalistis bifasciana?
Much of the available literature suggests that the larvae feed internally in the berries or fruits of Buckthorn or Dogwood. However, more recent research suggests that this may not be the case, as larvae have been found amongst dead Oak and Sweet Chestnut leaves.