Wood Sage Plume
EN

Wood Sage Plume

Capperia britanniodactylus

Unknown

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

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Wood Sage Plume faces severe decline due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its limited range. Overgrazing by livestock has degraded many of the chalk downland and limestone grassland sites where its host plant, wood sage (Teucrium scorodonia), thrives. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that affect the microhabitat conditions required by both the moth and its larval food source.

Threat summary

Habitat

This specialized plume moth inhabits chalk downlands, limestone grasslands, and scrubland edges where its larval host plant wood sage (Teucrium scorodonia) grows abundantly. The species requires warm, sheltered microclimates with sparse vegetation structure that allows wood sage to flourish in semi-natural grassland systems.

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 Wood Sage Plume classified as Endangered?
Wood Sage Plume is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Wood Sage Plume faces severe decline due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its limited range. Overgrazing by livestock has degraded many of the chalk downland and limestone grassland sites where its host plant, wood sage (Teucrium scorodonia), thrives. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that affect the microhabitat conditions required by both the moth and its larval food source.
Where does Wood Sage Plume live?
Wood Sage Plume occurs in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Luxembourg (plus 5 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 Wood Sage Plume?
The main threats to Wood Sage 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.

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