Agonopterix assimilella
This record describes Agonopterix assimilella (species). Recorded family: Depressariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 15 to 21 mm. The adults are rather similar to other Agonopterix species and can be difficult to determine without dissection. Areas where the larval foodplant is found. The adults of this species fly between April and June, and are sometimes attracted to mercury vapour light. The foodplant is broom, the larvae living initially inside the stems, subsequently feeding externally. Locally scattered throughout most of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Depressariidae
- Genus
- Agonopterix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Areas where the larval foodplant is found.
Seasonal Activity
The adults of this species fly between April and June, and are sometimes attracted to mercury vapour light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The foodplant is broom, the larvae living initially inside the stems, subsequently feeding externally.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Locally scattered throughout most of the British Isles. 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 Agonopterix assimilella. 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 Agonopterix assimilella (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Agonopterix assimilella
What is Agonopterix assimilella?
Agonopterix assimilella is a species in the family Depressariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Agonopterix assimilella found?
Habitat: Areas where the larval foodplant is found.
When is Agonopterix assimilella active?
Agonopterix assimilella: seasonal activity - The adults of this species fly between April and June, and are sometimes attracted to mercury vapour light..
What is the life cycle of a Agonopterix assimilella?
The foodplant is broom, the larvae living initially inside the stems, subsequently feeding externally.