Bryotropha terrella
This record describes Bryotropha terrella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 14-16 mm. The relatively nondescript adults have two indistinct darker dots on the forewing. Often encountered wherever long grass grows and easily flushed in the daytime. The larvae feed at the base of grasses, on the stems. Common and widespread in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Bryotropha terrella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryotropha_terrella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Anomologinae
- Genus
- Bryotropha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Often encountered wherever long grass grows and easily flushed in the daytime.
Seasonal Activity
They fly in June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed at the base of grasses, on the stems.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Common and widespread in Britain. 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 terrella. 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 terrella (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Bryotropha terrella
What is Bryotropha terrella?
Bryotropha terrella is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Bryotropha terrella found?
Habitat: Often encountered wherever long grass grows and easily flushed in the daytime.
When is Bryotropha terrella active?
Bryotropha terrella: seasonal activity - They fly in June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Bryotropha terrella?
The larvae feed at the base of grasses, on the stems.