Agriphila straminella
This record describes Agriphila straminella (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
A pale and rather plain looking 'grass moth'. The food plants are various grasses, especially Sheep's-fescue, where the larvae feed internally on the lower part of the stems. Present in good numbers throughout the whole of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Crambinae
- Tribe
- Crambini
- Genus
- Agriphila
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Grassy areas almost anywhere.
Seasonal Activity
July and August
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The food plants are various grasses, especially Sheep's-fescue, where the larvae feed internally on the lower part of the stems.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Present in good numbers throughout the whole of the British Isles. 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 Agriphila straminella. 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 Agriphila straminella (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Agriphila straminella
What is Agriphila straminella?
Agriphila straminella is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Agriphila straminella found?
Habitat: Grassy areas almost anywhere.
When is Agriphila straminella active?
Agriphila straminella: seasonal activity - July and August.
What is the life cycle of a Agriphila straminella?
The food plants are various grasses, especially Sheep's-fescue, where the larvae feed internally on the lower part of the stems.