Strophedra weirana
This record describes Strophedra weirana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan about 11 mm. This rather obscurely-marked species is similar to S. nitidana but is less distinctively marked than that species. Beech woods and areas where Beech is present. Adults are on the wing during June, and fly in afternoon sunshine, as well as at sunrise. The larva feeds on Beech, attaching two leaves together with silk and feeding within, causing a noticeable blotch on the leaf surfaces. This species occurs sparsely in suitable habitat in the southern half of England and parts of 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
- Strophedra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Beech woods and areas where Beech is present.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are on the wing during June, and fly in afternoon sunshine, as well as at sunrise.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva feeds on Beech, attaching two leaves together with silk and feeding within, causing a noticeable blotch on the leaf surfaces.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species occurs sparsely in suitable habitat in the southern half of England and parts of Wales. 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 Strophedra weirana. 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 Strophedra weirana (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Strophedra weirana
What is Strophedra weirana?
Strophedra weirana is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Strophedra weirana found?
Habitat: Beech woods and areas where Beech is present.
When is Strophedra weirana active?
Strophedra weirana: seasonal activity - Adults are on the wing during June, and fly in afternoon sunshine, as well as at sunrise..
What is the life cycle of a Strophedra weirana?
The larva feeds on Beech, attaching two leaves together with silk and feeding within, causing a noticeable blotch on the leaf surfaces.