Argyresthia spinosella
This record describes Argyresthia spinosella (species). Recorded family: Argyresthiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 9-11 mm. One of several similar species. The adults fly during June and July and are attracted to light. The larvae feed internally in the flowering shoots of Blackthorn. It is distributed widely throughout much of the British Isles except for the north of Scotland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. No additional images available for this species.
Wikipedia reference for Argyresthia spinosella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argyresthia_spinosella.
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
Associated with Blackthorn.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly during June and July and are attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed internally in the flowering shoots of Blackthorn.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is distributed widely throughout much of the British Isles except for the north of Scotland. 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 spinosella. 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 spinosella (4)
Frequently Asked Questions About Argyresthia spinosella
What is Argyresthia spinosella?
Argyresthia spinosella is a species in the family Argyresthiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Argyresthia spinosella found?
Habitat: Associated with Blackthorn.
When is Argyresthia spinosella active?
Argyresthia spinosella: seasonal activity - The adults fly during June and July and are attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Argyresthia spinosella?
The larvae feed internally in the flowering shoots of Blackthorn.