Acrolepia autumnitella
This record describes Acrolepia autumnitella (species). Recorded family: Glyphipterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 11-13 mm. A small inconspicuous species with brown wings that have a white patterning. The larva mines the leaves of Bittersweet or occasionally Deadly Nightshade. Various habitats especially those supporting the larval foodplant Bittersweet. The adults generally emerge in two generations, firstly in July and then in October - the second brood overwintering in this stage which probably accounts for any early sightings. The larvae mine the leaves of Bittersweet or occasionally Deadly Nightshade forming large whitish or translucent blotches. The pupa is formed in a cocoon fashioned from a network of silk. Distributed mainly in the southern half of England with a few scattered records further north, although it is probably overlooked. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/A.autumnitella.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/yponomeutoidea/glyphipterigidae/acrolepiinae/acrolepia/acrolepia-autumnitella/
Wikipedia reference for Acrolepia autumnitella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrolepia_autumnitella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Glyphipterigidae
- Genus
- Acrolepia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various habitats especially those supporting the larval foodplant Bittersweet.
Seasonal Activity
The adults generally emerge in two generations, firstly in July and then in October - the second brood overwintering in this stage which probably accounts for any early sightings.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae mine the leaves of Bittersweet or occasionally Deadly Nightshade forming large whitish or translucent blotches. The pupa is formed in a cocoon fashioned from a network of silk.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Distributed mainly in the southern half of England with a few scattered records further north, although it is probably overlooked. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acrolepia autumnitella. 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 Acrolepia autumnitella (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Acrolepia autumnitella
What is Acrolepia autumnitella?
Acrolepia autumnitella is a species in the family Glyphipterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Acrolepia autumnitella found?
Habitat: Various habitats especially those supporting the larval foodplant Bittersweet.
When is Acrolepia autumnitella active?
Acrolepia autumnitella: seasonal activity - The adults generally emerge in two generations, firstly in July and then in October - the second brood overwintering in this stage which probably accounts for any early sightings..
What is the life cycle of a Acrolepia autumnitella?
The larvae mine the leaves of Bittersweet or occasionally Deadly Nightshade forming large whitish or translucent blotches. The pupa is formed in a cocoon fashioned from a network of silk.