Spotted Shoot Moth
Rhyacionia pinivorana
This record describes Rhyacionia pinivorana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The adults fly from May to July and are normally found at night when they are attracted to light. However, they do sometimes fly during the day. Like other members of the genus Rhyacionia, the foodplant of this species is Scots pine Pinus sylvestris, the larvae feeding internally in the shoots and buds. The species is distributed widely over much of the British Isles, being common in some areas. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tortricidae
- Genus
- Rhyacionia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Areas where Scots Pine is present.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly from May to July and are normally found at night when they are attracted to light. However, they do sometimes fly during the day.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Like other members of the genus Rhyacionia, the foodplant of this species is Scots pine Pinus sylvestris, the larvae feeding internally in the shoots and buds.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The species is distributed widely over much of the British Isles, being common in some areas. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Rhyacionia pinivorana. 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 Spotted Shoot Moth (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Spotted Shoot Moth
What is Spotted Shoot Moth?
Spotted Shoot Moth (Rhyacionia pinivorana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Spotted Shoot Moth found?
Habitat: Areas where Scots Pine is present.
When is Spotted Shoot Moth active?
Spotted Shoot Moth: seasonal activity - The adults fly from May to July and are normally found at night when they are attracted to light. However, they do sometimes fly during the day..
What is the life cycle of a Spotted Shoot Moth?
Like other members of the genus Rhyacionia, the foodplant of this species is Scots pine Pinus sylvestris, the larvae feeding internally in the shoots and buds.