Water Veneer
Acentria ephemerella
This record describes Acentria ephemerella (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 11-13 mm. A small and unassuming species. There are two forms of the female - one wingless, which lives under the water and one winged. The fully-winged males have very plain pale grey-green wings. Various, sometimes near to water but also seen in swarms, sometimes in thousands. It is attracted to light. The flight period is from June to August. It has a remarkable life history, living in and around ponds and slow moving waters. The larvae are entirely aquatic, feeding on various aquatic plants such as Pondweeds ( Potomogeton spp .) and Canadian Waterweed. The males usually mate with the females on the surface of the water. Fairly common in suitable habitats throughout the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acentropinae
- Tribe
- Acentropini
- Genus
- Acentria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various, sometimes near to water but also seen in swarms, sometimes in thousands. It is attracted to light.
Seasonal Activity
The flight period is from June to August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
It has a remarkable life history, living in and around ponds and slow moving waters. The larvae are entirely aquatic, feeding on various aquatic plants such as Pondweeds (
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly common in suitable habitats throughout the British Isles. 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 Acentria ephemerella. 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 Water Veneer (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Water Veneer
What is Water Veneer?
Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Water Veneer found?
Habitat: Various, sometimes near to water but also seen in swarms, sometimes in thousands. It is attracted to light.
When is Water Veneer active?
Water Veneer: seasonal activity - The flight period is from June to August..
What is the life cycle of a Water Veneer?
It has a remarkable life history, living in and around ponds and slow moving waters. The larvae are entirely aquatic, feeding on various aquatic plants such as Pondweeds (