Blastobasis lacticolella
This record describes Blastobasis lacticolella (species). Recorded family: Blastobasidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 18-21 mm. Light buff with browner markings but very variable in the degree of markings, with unmarked examples common. The adult is nocturnal and comes readily to light in May and June and again in the autumn. Larva feeds on various mosses, dead insects, detritus, decaying vegetable matter, also on seedpods of Tree Lupin and Tansy. Originally not a British species, this moth was accidentally introduced with fruit and vegetables and appears to be established and expanding its range. It was first recorded in Kent in 1946 (as B. decolorella ). In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Blastobasis lacticolella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blastobasis lacticolella.
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
Hedgerows, woodland and gardens.
Seasonal Activity
The adult is nocturnal and comes readily to light in May and June and again in the autumn.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva feeds on various mosses, dead insects, detritus, decaying vegetable matter, also on seedpods of Tree Lupin and Tansy.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Originally not a British species, this moth was accidentally introduced with fruit and vegetables and appears to be established and expanding its range. It was first recorded in Kent in 1946 (as B.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Blastobasis lacticolella. 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 lacticolella (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Blastobasis lacticolella
What is Blastobasis lacticolella?
Blastobasis lacticolella is a species in the family Blastobasidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Blastobasis lacticolella found?
Habitat: Hedgerows, woodland and gardens.
When is Blastobasis lacticolella active?
Blastobasis lacticolella: seasonal activity - The adult is nocturnal and comes readily to light in May and June and again in the autumn..
What is the life cycle of a Blastobasis lacticolella?
Larva feeds on various mosses, dead insects, detritus, decaying vegetable matter, also on seedpods of Tree Lupin and Tansy.