Acrobasis consociella
This record describes Acrobasis consociella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 19-22 mm. It is similar to other British Acrobasis species but can appear more greyish. The adults are on the wing during July and August, when they can be attracted to light. Oak is the food plant, the larvae feeding gregariously in spun leaves. Locally distributed from southern England northwards into southern Scotland and west into Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Pyralidae
- Genus
- Acrobasis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Well wooded areas containing Oak.
Seasonal Activity
The adults are on the wing during July and August, when they can be attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Oak is the food plant, the larvae feeding gregariously in spun leaves.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Locally distributed from southern England northwards into southern Scotland and west into Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acrobasis consociella. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Acrobasis consociella (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Acrobasis consociella
What is Acrobasis consociella?
Acrobasis consociella is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Acrobasis consociella found?
Habitat: Well wooded areas containing Oak.
When is Acrobasis consociella active?
Acrobasis consociella: seasonal activity - The adults are on the wing during July and August, when they can be attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Acrobasis consociella?
Oak is the food plant, the larvae feeding gregariously in spun leaves.