Mountain Plume
Stenoptilia islandicus
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stenoptilia_islandicus
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
The Mountain Plume faces significant pressure from habitat degradation in its specialized montane environments, where overgrazing by livestock and agricultural expansion have reduced the quality of native grasslands and scrublands. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures force this cold-adapted species to retreat to increasingly limited high-altitude refugia. The moth's dependence on specific host plants makes it particularly vulnerable to vegetation changes caused by both direct human activities and shifting precipitation patterns in mountainous regions.
Habitat
The Mountain Plume inhabits montane grasslands, scrublands, and alpine meadows at elevations typically above 1,000 meters. This specialized moth requires areas with specific host plants and prefers cooler, moisture-retentive environments characteristic of mountain ecosystems.
Other threatened species in Pterophoridae
Threatened in Austria
Frequently asked questions
Why is Mountain Plume classified as Vulnerable?
Where does Mountain Plume live?
What are the main threats to Mountain Plume?
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