Stathmopoda pedella
This record describes Stathmopoda pedella (species). Recorded family: Stathmopodidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 10 to 14 mm. This small but distinctive moth has a very characteristic resting position. It rests with its enlarged tufted banded hind legs with long spurs almost at right angles to the body and angled slightly upwards. Often around Alder, the larval food plant. Larvae feed on the seeds of ripening fruits of Alder but show little sign of their presence. It is widespread but extremely local in southern and south-eastern England. A few scattered populations occur further north. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.
Wikipedia reference for Stathmopoda pedella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stathmopoda_pedella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Stathmopodidae
- Genus
- Stathmopoda
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Often around Alder, the larval food plant.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly in June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larvae feed on the seeds of ripening fruits of Alder but show little sign of their presence.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is widespread but extremely local in southern and south-eastern England. A few scattered populations occur further north. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Stathmopoda pedella. 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 Stathmopoda pedella (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Stathmopoda pedella
What is Stathmopoda pedella?
Stathmopoda pedella is a species in the family Stathmopodidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Stathmopoda pedella found?
Habitat: Often around Alder, the larval food plant.
When is Stathmopoda pedella active?
Stathmopoda pedella: seasonal activity - Adults fly in June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Stathmopoda pedella?
Larvae feed on the seeds of ripening fruits of Alder but show little sign of their presence.