Argyresthia bonnetella
This record describes Argyresthia bonnetella (species). Recorded family: Argyresthiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 9-11 mm. Very similar to the Cherry Fruit Moth in appearance, this species can be distinguished with care by the angle of the markings on the forewing. Best looked for around Hawthorn hedges and bushes. Common throughout most of mainland Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Argyresthia bonnetella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argyresthia bonnetella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Yponomeutoidea
- Family
- Argyresthiidae (Shiny Headstand Moths)
- Subfamily
- Argyresthiinae
- Genus
- Argyresthia (Argents)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Best looked for around Hawthorn hedges and bushes.
Seasonal Activity
Flies between June and August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
It is a Hawthorn feeder.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Common throughout most of mainland 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 Argyresthia bonnetella. 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 Argyresthia bonnetella (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Argyresthia bonnetella
What is Argyresthia bonnetella?
Argyresthia bonnetella is a species in the family Argyresthiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Argyresthia bonnetella found?
Habitat: Best looked for around Hawthorn hedges and bushes.
When is Argyresthia bonnetella active?
Argyresthia bonnetella: seasonal activity - Flies between June and August..
What is the life cycle of a Argyresthia bonnetella?
It is a Hawthorn feeder.