Argyresthia trifasciata
This record describes Argyresthia trifasciata (species). Recorded family: Argyresthiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Tiny (6-8 mm wingspan) but quite distinctive with three white hoops around a golden background. It also has a white head. The larva mines the scale leaves of various trees in the Cypress family, entering each leaf through a hole. The mined leaves then turn brown and drop off Photograph the mines, showing entrance holes, and note host species Found in areas where the larval food plants grow. Larva mines leaves and shoots of Juniper, Leyland Cypress, Lawson's Cypress and other cultivated conifers. Not discovered in Britain until 1982 when one was caught in London. Recently the number of records has increased. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/A.trifasciata.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/yponomeutoidea/yponomeutidae/yponomeutinae/argyresthia/argyresthia-trifasciata/
Wikipedia reference for Argyresthia trifasciata: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argyresthia trifasciata.
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
Found in areas where the larval food plants grow.
Seasonal Activity
May and June.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva mines leaves and shoots of Juniper, Leyland Cypress, Lawson's Cypress and other cultivated conifers.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Not discovered in Britain until 1982 when one was caught in London. Recently the number of records has increased. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Argyresthia trifasciata. 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 trifasciata (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Argyresthia trifasciata
What is Argyresthia trifasciata?
Argyresthia trifasciata is a species in the family Argyresthiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Argyresthia trifasciata found?
Habitat: Found in areas where the larval food plants grow.
When is Argyresthia trifasciata active?
Argyresthia trifasciata: seasonal activity - May and June..
What is the life cycle of a Argyresthia trifasciata?
Larva mines leaves and shoots of Juniper, Leyland Cypress, Lawson's Cypress and other cultivated conifers.