Irish Plume
Platyptilia tesseradactyla
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platyptilia_tesseradactyla
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
The Irish Plume faces severe habitat degradation due to agricultural intensification and coastal development across its limited range in western Ireland. Overgrazing by livestock has reduced the quality of its specialized dune and machair habitats, while climate change threatens the delicate moisture balance required by its host plants. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to local extinctions from habitat disturbance.
Habitat
The Irish Plume inhabits coastal dune systems, machair grasslands, and limestone pavements along the western coast of Ireland. It requires areas with specific host plants and maintains close associations with traditional low-intensity grazing regimes that create the mosaic of vegetation heights essential for its lifecycle.
Other threatened species in Pterophoridae
Threatened in Åland Islands
Frequently asked questions
Why is Irish Plume classified as Vulnerable?
Where does Irish Plume live?
What are the main threats to Irish Plume?
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