Argyresthia retinella
This record describes Argyresthia retinella (species). Recorded family: Argyresthiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 9 to 10 mm. This is a white moth with subtle sooty marking. The adults are generally on the wing in June and July, when they can be attracted to light as well as encountered during the day. The foodplant is Birch, the larva feeding internally in young shoots or catkins. A relatively common species throughout the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Argyresthia retinella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argyresthia_retinella.
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
Anywhere that Birch is frequent.
Seasonal Activity
The adults are generally on the wing in June and July, when they can be attracted to light as well as encountered during the day.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The foodplant is Birch, the larva feeding internally in young shoots or catkins.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A relatively common species throughout 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 Argyresthia retinella. 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 retinella (4)
Frequently Asked Questions About Argyresthia retinella
What is Argyresthia retinella?
Argyresthia retinella is a species in the family Argyresthiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Argyresthia retinella found?
Habitat: Anywhere that Birch is frequent.
When is Argyresthia retinella active?
Argyresthia retinella: seasonal activity - The adults are generally on the wing in June and July, when they can be attracted to light as well as encountered during the day..
What is the life cycle of a Argyresthia retinella?
The foodplant is Birch, the larva feeding internally in young shoots or catkins.