Yponomeuta sedella
This record describes Yponomeuta sedella (species). Recorded family: Yponomeutidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan about 16 mm. One of the smallest, but most easily distinguishable of the Yponomeutids, the forewings of this species are a smooth grey, with black spots absent from the apical third, although there is usually one spot centrally amongst the cilia. Due to the rarity of this species in VC55 good photographs are needed, and the specimen should be retained until identification has been confirmed. There are two generations, adult moths being on the wing in April and May, and again in August. The moth can be taken at light. The larvae feed on Orpine ( Sedum telephium ), including cultivated varieties, feeding gregariously in a web amongst the leaves. It is fairly locally distributed in the southern half of Britain, north to the Midlands, although there are records from Northumberland too. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
Wikipedia reference for Yponomeuta sedella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yponomeuta sedella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Yponomeutoidea
- Family
- Yponomeutidae (Ermine Moths)
- Subfamily
- Yponomeutinae
- Tribe
- Yponomeutini
- Genus
- Yponomeuta (Small Ermine Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Where the larval food plants occur.
Seasonal Activity
There are two generations, adult moths being on the wing in April and May, and again in August. The moth can be taken at light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Orpine (
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is fairly locally distributed in the southern half of Britain, north to the Midlands, although there are records from Northumberland too. 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 Yponomeuta sedella. 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 Yponomeuta sedella (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Yponomeuta sedella
What is Yponomeuta sedella?
Yponomeuta sedella is a species in the family Yponomeutidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Yponomeuta sedella found?
Habitat: Where the larval food plants occur.
When is Yponomeuta sedella active?
Yponomeuta sedella: seasonal activity - There are two generations, adult moths being on the wing in April and May, and again in August. The moth can be taken at light..
What is the life cycle of a Yponomeuta sedella?
The larvae feed on Orpine (