Brachmia inornatella
This record describes Brachmia inornatella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Please provide a photograph and retain specimen determination by genitalia examination (gen. det.) may be required. Fens, marshes and on river-banks, especially in areas where Common Reed is present. There is a single generation, flying in June and July, when the species will come to light. It is believed to feed on Common Reed, probably internally in the stems. A local species, occurring mainly in the fens and marshes of East Anglia and south-eastern England. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce A. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Gelechiidae
- Genus
- Brachmia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Fens, marshes and on river-banks, especially in areas where Common Reed is present.
Seasonal Activity
There is a single generation, flying in June and July, when the species will come to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
It is believed to feed on Common Reed, probably internally in the stems.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A local species, occurring mainly in the fens and marshes of East Anglia and south-eastern England. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce A.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Brachmia inornatella. 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 Brachmia inornatella (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Brachmia inornatella
What is Brachmia inornatella?
Brachmia inornatella is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Brachmia inornatella found?
Habitat: Fens, marshes and on river-banks, especially in areas where Common Reed is present.
When is Brachmia inornatella active?
Brachmia inornatella: seasonal activity - There is a single generation, flying in June and July, when the species will come to light..
What is the life cycle of a Brachmia inornatella?
It is believed to feed on Common Reed, probably internally in the stems.