Dusky Plume
Oidaematophorus lithodactyla
Oidaematophorus lithodactyla, also known as the dusky plume, is a moth of the family Pterophoridae found from Europe to Asia Minor and Japan. It was first described by German lepidopterist, Georg Friedrich Treitschke in 1833.
19
Countries
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) richardjaybee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by richardjaybee
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Pterophoridae
Genus
Oidaematophorus
Dusky Plume belongs to the family Pterophoridae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Oidaematophorus lithodactyla, also known as the dusky plume, is a moth of the family Pterophoridae found from Europe to Asia Minor and Japan. It was first described by German lepidopterist, Georg Friedrich Treitschke in 1833.
The Dusky Plume faces significant pressure from habitat fragmentation and the loss of its specific host plants due to agricultural intensification and urban development. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the phenology of both the moth and its larval food sources, potentially disrupting critical breeding cycles. Increased use of pesticides in surrounding agricultural areas further compounds population declines through direct mortality and reduced reproductive success.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This species inhabits rocky outcrops, limestone cliffs, and sparse grasslands where its larval host plants thrive in well-drained, calcareous soils. Adults are typically found in areas with scattered shrubs and herbaceous vegetation that provide both nectar sources and shelter from wind exposure.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
The Dusky Plume faces significant pressure from habitat fragmentation and the loss of its specific host plants due to agricultural intensification and urban development. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the phenology of both the moth and its larval food sources, potentially disrupting critical breeding cycles. Increased use of pesticides in surrounding agricultural areas further compounds population declines through direct mortality and reduced reproductive success.
Detailed threat classification data is sourced from IUCN assessments as they become available.
Found in 19 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). Dusky Plume (Oidaematophorus lithodactyla). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/dusky-plume