Gentian Plume
CR

Gentian Plume

Stenoptilia pneumonanthes

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stenoptilia_pneumonanthes

Overview

Stenoptilia pneumonanthes, also known as the gentian plume, is a moth of the family Pterophoridae found in central Europe and Russia. It was first described by Friedrich Otto Büttner in 1880.

The Gentian Plume moth is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments where its host plant, marsh gentian, grows. The species faces severe population decline from drainage of fens and marshes, agricultural intensification, and changes in traditional land management practices that maintained suitable habitat conditions.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Gentian Plume inhabits damp heathland, wet grassland, and bog-margin habitats wherever its obligate host plant, marsh gentian, grows. Its distribution is patchy and tightly restricted to these specialized wetland microhabitats.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Pterophoridae

VU

Calyciphora albodactylus

Unknown
European Sundew Plume Moth, European Sundew PlumeCR

European Sundew Plume Moth, European Sundew Plume

Buckleria paludum

Unknown
Mountain PlumeVU

Mountain Plume

Stenoptilia islandicus

Unknown
Oidaematophorus vafradactylusVU

Oidaematophorus vafradactylus

Unknown

Threatened in Austria

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
EN

Lyophyllum deliberatum

Unknown
VU

Large Tree-chernes

Dendrochernes cyrneus

Unknown
EN

Pipizella nigriana

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Gentian Plume classified as Critically Endangered?
Gentian Plume is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Gentian Plume moth is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments where its host plant, marsh gentian, grows. The species faces severe population decline from drainage of fens and marshes, agricultural intensification, and changes in traditional land management practices that maintained suitable habitat conditions.
Where does Gentian Plume live?
Gentian Plume occurs in Austria, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, and Latvia (plus 8 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Gentian Plume?
The main threats to Gentian Plume are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.