Argyresthia semifusca
This record describes Argyresthia semifusca (species). Recorded family: Argyresthiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan c.12 mm. The adults of this species often show a slight purplish tinge to the brown colour of the forewing. Adult moths fly from June into late August/early September. The larvae feed either on Hawthorn or Rowan in a young shoot during early summer. Distributed across most of the British Isles with most records coming from the southern half of Britain. Itmay be under recorded due to its diminutive size. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Argyresthiidae
- Genus
- Argyresthia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Well wooded areas.
Seasonal Activity
Adult moths fly from June into late August/early September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed either on Hawthorn or Rowan in a young shoot during early summer.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Distributed across most of the British Isles with most records coming from the southern half of Britain. Itmay be under recorded due to its diminutive size. 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 semifusca. 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 semifusca (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Argyresthia semifusca
What is Argyresthia semifusca?
Argyresthia semifusca is a species in the family Argyresthiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Argyresthia semifusca found?
Habitat: Well wooded areas.
When is Argyresthia semifusca active?
Argyresthia semifusca: seasonal activity - Adult moths fly from June into late August/early September..
What is the life cycle of a Argyresthia semifusca?
The larvae feed either on Hawthorn or Rowan in a young shoot during early summer.