Blastobasis adustella
This record describes Blastobasis adustella (species). Recorded family: Blastobasidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Variable species with some very dark specimens. Variety of habitats including woodland, heath and gardens, predominantly in coastal areas. A nocturnal species, occurring mainly in August and into September. The larvae feed on a variety of foodstuffs, including decaying vegetable matter. An adventitious species, this moth was introduced into Britain and is now well established throughout. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Blastobasis adustella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blastobasis adustella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Blastobasidae (Blastobasid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Blastobasinae
- Tribe
- Blastobasini
- Genus
- Blastobasis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Variety of habitats including woodland, heath and gardens, predominantly in coastal areas.
Seasonal Activity
A nocturnal species, occurring mainly in August and into September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a variety of foodstuffs, including decaying vegetable matter.
Additional species information
Recorded status
An adventitious species, this moth was introduced into Britain and is now well established throughout. 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 Blastobasis adustella. 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 Blastobasis adustella (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Blastobasis adustella
What is Blastobasis adustella?
Blastobasis adustella is a species in the family Blastobasidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Blastobasis adustella found?
Habitat: Variety of habitats including woodland, heath and gardens, predominantly in coastal areas.
When is Blastobasis adustella active?
Blastobasis adustella: seasonal activity - A nocturnal species, occurring mainly in August and into September..
What is the life cycle of a Blastobasis adustella?
The larvae feed on a variety of foodstuffs, including decaying vegetable matter.