White Plume
Pterophorus pentadactyla
This record describes Pterophorus pentadactyla (species). Recorded family: Pterophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 26-34 mm. Probably the most distinctive of the 'Plume' moths and one of the largest. Its wings are deeply divided into several 'fingers', each of which is finely feathered, or plumed. Inhabiting dry grassland, waste ground and gardens. The adults fly from dusk onwards in June and July and sometimes have a second generation in September. The caterpillars overwinter and feed on Bindweed. Quite common over much of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Pterophorus pentadactyla: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterophorus pentadactyla.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pterophoroidea
- Family
- Pterophoridae (Plume Moths)
- Subfamily
- Pterophorinae
- Tribe
- Pterophorini
- Genus
- Pterophorus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Inhabiting dry grassland, waste ground and gardens.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly from dusk onwards in June and July and sometimes have a second generation in September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The caterpillars overwinter and feed on Bindweed.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Quite common over much of Britain. 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 Pterophorus pentadactyla. 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 White Plume (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About White Plume
What is White Plume?
White Plume (Pterophorus pentadactyla) is a species in the family Pterophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is White Plume found?
Habitat: Inhabiting dry grassland, waste ground and gardens.
When is White Plume active?
White Plume: seasonal activity - The adults fly from dusk onwards in June and July and sometimes have a second generation in September..
What is the life cycle of a White Plume?
The caterpillars overwinter and feed on Bindweed.