Beet Moth
Scrobipalpa ocellatella
This record describes Scrobipalpa ocellatella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
There are similar Scrobipalpa spp. that may occur in VC55, therefore confirmation by dissection will be necessary for worn individuals and isolated records. Should there be evidence of either colonisation or a repeat dispersal event, then records may be supported by very clear photos. In all cases, confer with the VC55 CMR prior to recording/releasing the specimen. All specimens in 2022 to date have been taken at light traps and the habitat types necessary to sustain this species in our area have not been established at present. Nationally there are two generations, with adult moths on the wing from May to July and again between August and October. As the vernacular name suggests, the foodplants are Beet ( Beta vulgaris ) and Sea Beet ( B. maritima ), the larvae feeding in an untidy spinning. This was generally a coastal species with very occasional inland wanderers until c2019, since when movements further inland have occurred. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B but the status may be in need of review in view of recent trends.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Gelechiidae
- Genus
- Scrobipalpa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
All specimens in 2022 to date have been taken at light traps and the habitat types necessary to sustain this species in our area have not been established at present.
Seasonal Activity
Nationally there are two generations, with adult moths on the wing from May to July and again between August and October.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
As the vernacular name suggests, the foodplants are Beet (
Additional species information
Recorded status
This was generally a coastal species with very occasional inland wanderers until c2019, since when movements further inland have occurred. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B but the status may be in need of review in view of recent trends.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Scrobipalpa ocellatella. 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 Beet Moth (4)
Frequently Asked Questions About Beet Moth
What is Beet Moth?
Beet Moth (Scrobipalpa ocellatella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Beet Moth found?
Habitat: All specimens in 2022 to date have been taken at light traps and the habitat types necessary to sustain this species in our area have not been established at present.
When is Beet Moth active?
Beet Moth: seasonal activity - Nationally there are two generations, with adult moths on the wing from May to July and again between August and October..
What is the life cycle of a Beet Moth?
As the vernacular name suggests, the foodplants are Beet (