Blastodacna atra
This record describes Blastodacna atra (species). Recorded family: Parametriotidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 11 to 13 mm. Ground colour of this species seems to vary from pale brown to much darker almost black specimens. The adult moths occur between May and September, and are sometimes attracted to garden light-traps. The larvae feed inside small twigs of apple, mining under the surface and causing the shoot to die off. Widely but thinly distributed in England, it is even more local in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B. No additional images available for this species.
Wikipedia reference for Blastodacna atra: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blastodacna_atra.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Parametriotidae (Grass Miner Moths)
- Subfamily
- Agonoxeninae
- Genus
- Blastodacna
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occurring in orchards and gardens.
Seasonal Activity
The adult moths occur between May and September, and are sometimes attracted to garden light-traps.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed inside small twigs of apple, mining under the surface and causing the shoot to die off.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widely but thinly distributed in England, it is even more local in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Blastodacna atra. 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 Blastodacna atra (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Blastodacna atra
What is Blastodacna atra?
Blastodacna atra is a species in the family Parametriotidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Blastodacna atra found?
Habitat: Occurring in orchards and gardens.
When is Blastodacna atra active?
Blastodacna atra: seasonal activity - The adult moths occur between May and September, and are sometimes attracted to garden light-traps..
What is the life cycle of a Blastodacna atra?
The larvae feed inside small twigs of apple, mining under the surface and causing the shoot to die off.