Bryotropha domestica
This record describes Bryotropha domestica (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 12 to 13 mm. The pale buff wings are marked with dark brown blotches. The adult moths fly in a single generation from mid-May to late August, and are readily attracted to light. The larvae feed on mosses growing on walls, in a silken gallery. Pupation occurs within this gallery. This species is common throughout England and Wales, particularly in the south and in urban areas. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Gelechiidae
- Genus
- Bryotropha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around mossy walls.
Seasonal Activity
The adult moths fly in a single generation from mid-May to late August, and are readily attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on mosses growing on walls, in a silken gallery. Pupation occurs within this gallery.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species is common throughout England and Wales, particularly in the south and in urban areas. 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 Bryotropha domestica. 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 Bryotropha domestica (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Bryotropha domestica
What is Bryotropha domestica?
Bryotropha domestica is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Bryotropha domestica found?
Habitat: Around mossy walls.
When is Bryotropha domestica active?
Bryotropha domestica: seasonal activity - The adult moths fly in a single generation from mid-May to late August, and are readily attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Bryotropha domestica?
The larvae feed on mosses growing on walls, in a silken gallery. Pupation occurs within this gallery.