Wood Sage Plume
Capperia britanniodactylus
This record describes Capperia britanniodactylus (species). Recorded family: Pterophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
It likes dry, south-facing and sloping stony habitats, where Wood Sage is present. The moths fly in June and July, and are only generally seen from dusk onwards, hiding by day amongst the foodplants. The larvae feed on Wood Sage. In spring, it bites through a stem of the foodplant, causing it to wilt. These wilted stems can be quite obvious and are a good indicator to find the larva, which feeds amongst the drooping leaves. This species is distributed widely in mainland Britain, but can be very local. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Pterophoridae
- Genus
- Capperia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It likes dry, south-facing and sloping stony habitats, where Wood Sage is present.
Seasonal Activity
The moths fly in June and July, and are only generally seen from dusk onwards, hiding by day amongst the foodplants.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Wood Sage. In spring, it bites through a stem of the foodplant, causing it to wilt. These wilted stems can be quite obvious and are a good indicator to find the larva, which feeds amongst the drooping leaves.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species is distributed widely in mainland Britain, but can be very local. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Capperia britanniodactylus. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wood Sage Plume
What is Wood Sage Plume?
Wood Sage Plume (Capperia britanniodactylus) is a species in the family Pterophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Wood Sage Plume found?
Habitat: It likes dry, south-facing and sloping stony habitats, where Wood Sage is present.
When is Wood Sage Plume active?
Wood Sage Plume: seasonal activity - The moths fly in June and July, and are only generally seen from dusk onwards, hiding by day amongst the foodplants..
What is the life cycle of a Wood Sage Plume?
The larvae feed on Wood Sage. In spring, it bites through a stem of the foodplant, causing it to wilt. These wilted stems can be quite obvious and are a good indicator to find the larva, which feeds amongst the drooping leaves.