Anacampsis blattariella
This record describes Anacampsis blattariella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 16 to 19mm. Very similar to the closely related A. populella and examination of the genitalia may be needed to be certain in differentiating between these two species. They rest on large birch trunks during the day. Adults fly at night from July to September and sometimes come to light. Larvae feed on birch (Betula) in May and June in a leaf rolled longitudinally along the mid-rib. The moth is found in most of England but is absent in Devon and Cornwall and the most northern counties. It is also absent from Scotland and most of Wales. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Gelechiidae
- Genus
- Anacampsis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
They rest on large birch trunks during the day.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly at night from July to September and sometimes come to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larvae feed on birch (Betula) in May and June in a leaf rolled longitudinally along the mid-rib.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The moth is found in most of England but is absent in Devon and Cornwall and the most northern counties. It is also absent from Scotland and most of Wales. 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 Anacampsis blattariella. 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 Anacampsis blattariella (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Anacampsis blattariella
What is Anacampsis blattariella?
Anacampsis blattariella is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Anacampsis blattariella found?
Habitat: They rest on large birch trunks during the day.
When is Anacampsis blattariella active?
Anacampsis blattariella: seasonal activity - Adults fly at night from July to September and sometimes come to light..
What is the life cycle of a Anacampsis blattariella?
Larvae feed on birch (Betula) in May and June in a leaf rolled longitudinally along the mid-rib.