Acrobasis suavella
This record describes Acrobasis suavella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 22 to 24 mm.This is the largest of the British Trachycera species, and rather dark, being mostly reddish-purple with two indistinct pale cross-lines and a whitish suffusion near the leading edge of the forewing. Blackthorn is the preferred foodplant, the larvae constructing an untidy silken gallery amongst the leaves. It is a local species occurring in the southern English counties. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Acrobasis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
In areas containing Blackthorn.
Seasonal Activity
July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Blackthorn is the preferred foodplant, the larvae constructing an untidy silken gallery amongst the leaves.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is a local species occurring in the southern English counties. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acrobasis suavella. 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 suavella (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Acrobasis suavella
What is Acrobasis suavella?
Acrobasis suavella is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Acrobasis suavella found?
Habitat: In areas containing Blackthorn.
When is Acrobasis suavella active?
Acrobasis suavella: seasonal activity - July and August..
What is the life cycle of a Acrobasis suavella?
Blackthorn is the preferred foodplant, the larvae constructing an untidy silken gallery amongst the leaves.