Agriphila tristella
This record describes Agriphila tristella (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan around 27 mm. Fairly distinctive with its pale yellowish or creamy longitudinal streak which branches into 'fingers' towards the wing tip. Flying from June to September, it is nocturnal and a regular visitor to the light-trap. The larvae feed in the base of stems of grass. Another common grassland species throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Agriphila tristella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriphila tristella.
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 places anywhere
Seasonal Activity
Flying from June to September, it is nocturnal and a regular visitor to the light-trap.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed in the base of stems of grass.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Another common grassland species throughout Britain. 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 tristella. 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 tristella (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Agriphila tristella
What is Agriphila tristella?
Agriphila tristella is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Agriphila tristella found?
Habitat: Grassy places anywhere
When is Agriphila tristella active?
Agriphila tristella: seasonal activity - Flying from June to September, it is nocturnal and a regular visitor to the light-trap..
What is the life cycle of a Agriphila tristella?
The larvae feed in the base of stems of grass.