Ypsolopha mucronella
This record describes Ypsolopha mucronella (species). Recorded family: Ypsolophidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 26 to 33 mm. The adult moth has a particularly distinctive attenuated resting posture. It is found mainly in woodlands on chalky soils. It can be found in flight during August to April. Adult overwinters in dense cover. The larval foodplant is Spindle. This is a local species, with a range from southern England up to the Midlands. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
Wikipedia reference for Ypsolopha mucronella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ypsolopha_mucronella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Ypsolophidae
- Genus
- Ypsolopha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It is found mainly in woodlands on chalky soils.
Seasonal Activity
It can be found in flight during August to April.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Adult overwinters in dense cover. The larval foodplant is Spindle.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This is a local species, with a range from southern England up to the Midlands. 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 Ypsolopha mucronella. 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 Ypsolopha mucronella (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Ypsolopha mucronella
What is Ypsolopha mucronella?
Ypsolopha mucronella is a species in the family Ypsolophidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Ypsolopha mucronella found?
Habitat: It is found mainly in woodlands on chalky soils.
When is Ypsolopha mucronella active?
Ypsolopha mucronella: seasonal activity - It can be found in flight during August to April..
What is the life cycle of a Ypsolopha mucronella?
Adult overwinters in dense cover. The larval foodplant is Spindle.