Thistle Ermine
Myelois circumvoluta
This record describes Myelois circumvoluta (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 27-33 mm. This is a very distinctive moth, rather reminiscent of a larger version of the Yponomeutidae family. Found in habitats where the foodplants (Thistles) grow. Flying in June and July, the adults can be attracted to light. As the name suggests, the larval foodplants are various types of Thistle. This moth is distributed over the southern half of Britain and is fairly common. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Pyralidae
- Genus
- Myelois
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Found in habitats where the foodplants (Thistles) grow.
Seasonal Activity
Flying in June and July, the adults can be attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
As the name suggests, the larval foodplants are various types of Thistle.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This moth is distributed over the southern half of Britain and is fairly common. 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 Myelois circumvoluta. 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 Thistle Ermine (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Thistle Ermine
What is Thistle Ermine?
Thistle Ermine (Myelois circumvoluta) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Thistle Ermine found?
Habitat: Found in habitats where the foodplants (Thistles) grow.
When is Thistle Ermine active?
Thistle Ermine: seasonal activity - Flying in June and July, the adults can be attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Thistle Ermine?
As the name suggests, the larval foodplants are various types of Thistle.