Wormwood Knot-horn
EN

Wormwood Knot-horn

Euzophera cinerosella

Unknown

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

Overview

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

The Wormwood Knot-horn faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its European range. The species' specialized dependence on Artemisia (wormwood) host plants makes it particularly vulnerable to changes in plant community composition caused by altered land management practices. Climate change poses an additional threat by shifting the distribution of suitable habitat and potentially disrupting the synchronization between moth emergence and host plant phenology.

Threat summary

Habitat

This moth species inhabits dry grasslands, scrublands, and waste ground where its Artemisia host plants grow, typically in Mediterranean and temperate European environments. The larvae develop within the stems and roots of wormwood species, requiring stable populations of these specific host plants for successful reproduction.

Other threatened species in Pyralidae

Catastia margineaVU

Catastia marginea

Unknown
Lime Knot-hornVU

Lime Knot-horn

Salebriopsis albicilla

Unknown
Silver-edged Knot-hornVU

Silver-edged Knot-horn

Pima boisduvaliella

Unknown
Ermine Knot-hornEN

Ermine Knot-horn

Phycitodes binaevella

Unknown

Threatened in Åland Islands

Scarce BlackneckCR

Scarce Blackneck

Lygephila craccae

Unknown
EN

Dolichopus notatus

Unknown
Haplodrassus cognatusCR

Haplodrassus cognatus

Unknown
Yellow-breasted BuntingCR

Yellow-breasted Bunting

Emberiza aureola

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Wormwood Knot-horn classified as Endangered?
Wormwood Knot-horn 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 Wormwood Knot-horn faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its European range. The species' specialized dependence on Artemisia (wormwood) host plants makes it particularly vulnerable to changes in plant community composition caused by altered land management practices. Climate change poses an additional threat by shifting the distribution of suitable habitat and potentially disrupting the synchronization between moth emergence and host plant phenology.
Where does Wormwood Knot-horn live?
Wormwood Knot-horn occurs in Åland Islands, Austria, Belarus, China, Croatia, and Denmark (plus 18 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 Wormwood Knot-horn?
The main threats to Wormwood Knot-horn 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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