Bee Moth
Aphomia sociella
This record describes Aphomia sociella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 18 to 44 mm. This species is sexually dimorphic but both sexes are somewhat variable. Males have a creamy white head, thorax and forewing proximal to the antemedian line. Females have two black discal spots between the antemedian (first) and postmedian (second) lines, the more distal being the larger. Common around bee and wasp nests and beehives throughout Britain. Larva feeds on the debris in and the contents of wasp and bee nests. Fairly common over much of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Aphomia sociella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphomia sociella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Galleriinae
- Tribe
- Tirathabini
- Genus
- Aphomia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Common around bee and wasp nests and beehives throughout Britain.
Seasonal Activity
June to August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva feeds on the debris in and the contents of wasp and bee nests.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly common over much 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 Aphomia sociella. 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 Bee Moth (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Bee Moth
What is Bee Moth?
Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Bee Moth found?
Habitat: Common around bee and wasp nests and beehives throughout Britain.
When is Bee Moth active?
Bee Moth: seasonal activity - June to August..
What is the life cycle of a Bee Moth?
Larva feeds on the debris in and the contents of wasp and bee nests.