# Red Piercer

*Lathronympha strigana*

To protect itself from predators, the tiny caterpillar spins a silk web that binds the top leaves of its host plant into a secure, tent-like shelter.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Tortricidae › Lathronympha
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** forest
- **Habitat:** Sunny forest edges, woodland clearings, meadows, and roadsides where host plants grow.
- **Diet:** Larvae feed on St. John's wort (Hypericum) leaves, flowers, and seeds; adults drink nectar.
- **Range:** Europe, Asia Minor, Caucasus, Siberia
- **Size:** Wingspan of 8 to 11 mm
- **Lifespan:** 1 year (with adults living only 2 to 3 weeks)
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Loss of woodland edge habitats, intensive mowing of meadows, and herbicide use.
- **Safe to approach?:** Completely harmless. This micro-moth cannot bite, sting, or cause allergies. You can safely observe it from inches away as it rests on foliage. If it lands on your skin, simply enjoy the moment or gently nudge it to fly away.

## About

Lathronympha strigana is a moth of the Tortricidae family.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/2d1d6162-320c-4c88-a76f-ac143bd2a0c6
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/326108
- Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lathronympha_strigana
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/2210069/medium.jpg (Donald Hobern, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.