Athrips mouffetella
This record describes Athrips mouffetella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan about 15mm. A small, but distinctively marked moth. The adult flies at night during July to September, and is attracted to light. The larvae feed mainly on honeysuckle during May and June, spinning together terminal shoots. Found throughout the southern two-thirds of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Gelechiinae
- Tribe
- Gelechiini
- Genus
- Athrips
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occurs in woodland and gardens.
Seasonal Activity
The adult flies at night during July to September, and is attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed mainly on honeysuckle during May and June, spinning together terminal shoots.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Found throughout the southern two-thirds of 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 Athrips mouffetella. 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 Athrips mouffetella (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Athrips mouffetella
What is Athrips mouffetella?
Athrips mouffetella is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Athrips mouffetella found?
Habitat: Occurs in woodland and gardens.
When is Athrips mouffetella active?
Athrips mouffetella: seasonal activity - The adult flies at night during July to September, and is attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Athrips mouffetella?
The larvae feed mainly on honeysuckle during May and June, spinning together terminal shoots.