Buckthorn Conch
Phtheochroa sodaliana
Phtheochroa sodaliana, the buckthorn conch, is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in most of Europe and in Russia (Uralsk) and Lebanon.
17
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phtheochroa_sodaliana
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Tortricidae
Genus
Phtheochroa
Buckthorn Conch belongs to the family Tortricidae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Phtheochroa sodaliana, the buckthorn conch, is a species of moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in most of Europe and in Russia (Uralsk) and Lebanon. The habitat consists of dry pastures, heathland and fens.
Primary threats to the Buckthorn Conch include habitat fragmentation due to urban development and agricultural expansion, which has significantly reduced the availability of suitable microhabitats. Additionally, climate change-induced alterations in moisture patterns and increased frequency of extreme weather events are disrupting the delicate environmental conditions this species requires for reproduction and survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This species inhabits moist deciduous woodlands with dense understory vegetation, particularly areas with abundant leaf litter and rotting logs near seasonal streams or wetland edges. The Buckthorn Conch shows a strong preference for calcium-rich soils and is most commonly found in mature forest patches with established buckthorn shrub communities.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Primary threats to the Buckthorn Conch include habitat fragmentation due to urban development and agricultural expansion, which has significantly reduced the availability of suitable microhabitats. Additionally, climate change-induced alterations in moisture patterns and increased frequency of extreme weather events are disrupting the delicate environmental conditions this species requires for reproduction and survival.
Detailed threat classification data is sourced from IUCN assessments as they become available.
Found in 17 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Buckthorn Conch (Phtheochroa sodaliana). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/buckthorn-conch