Willow Tortrix
Epinotia cruciana
This record describes Epinotia cruciana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 12-15 mm. The scientific name cruciana refers to the pale forewing markings which, when the moth is at rest, meet to form the shape of a cross when seen from above. Flying from June to early August, the adults can be disturbed from the foliage of the foodplants during the day. The foodplants are various Willows, in particular Creeping Willow, on which the larva spins together the leaves of a terminal shoot and feeds within. Widespread but local in the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Eucosmini
- Genus
- Epinotia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
A wide range of habitats.
Seasonal Activity
Flying from June to early August, the adults can be disturbed from the foliage of the foodplants during the day.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The foodplants are various Willows, in particular Creeping Willow, on which the larva spins together the leaves of a terminal shoot and feeds within.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread but local in the British Isles. 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 Epinotia cruciana. 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 Willow Tortrix (4)
Frequently Asked Questions About Willow Tortrix
What is Willow Tortrix?
Willow Tortrix (Epinotia cruciana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Willow Tortrix found?
Habitat: A wide range of habitats.
When is Willow Tortrix active?
Willow Tortrix: seasonal activity - Flying from June to early August, the adults can be disturbed from the foliage of the foodplants during the day..
What is the life cycle of a Willow Tortrix?
The foodplants are various Willows, in particular Creeping Willow, on which the larva spins together the leaves of a terminal shoot and feeds within.