Borkhausenia cf. minutella - Hodges#1061.2
Borkhausenia cf-minutella
This record describes Borkhausenia cf-minutella (species). Recorded family: Oecophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Oecophoridae (Concealer Moths)
- Subfamily
- Oecophorinae
- Tribe
- Oecophorini
- Genus
- Borkhausenia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Seasonal Activity
May to June
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The caterpillars feed on seeds and other dry plantstuffs such as dried fruit; they have also been recorded in chicken nests. ( Gallus gallus )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Borkhausenia cf. minutella (Linnaeus, 1758) refers to specimens from Long Island, NY and CT which may refer to "true" minutella , a European species currently treated as extralimital to NA. This species is excluded by Pohl & Landry (in Pohl & Nanz (eds.) 2023) pending confirmation by examining specimens.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Borkhausenia cf-minutella. 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 Borkhausenia cf. minutella - Hodges#1061.2 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Bob Biagi; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Borkhausenia cf. minutella - Hodges#1061.2
How big is Borkhausenia cf. minutella - Hodges#1061.2?
wingspan 10–14mm
What does Borkhausenia cf. minutella - Hodges#1061.2 eat?
The diet of the Borkhausenia cf. minutella - Hodges#1061.2 includes The caterpillars feed on seeds and other dry plantstuffs such as dried fruit; they have also been recorded in chicken nests. ( Gallus gallus ).
When is Borkhausenia cf. minutella - Hodges#1061.2 active?
Borkhausenia cf. minutella - Hodges#1061.2: seasonal activity - May to June.