Carpatolechia alburnella
This record describes Carpatolechia alburnella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan about13 mm. A pale silvery species effectively camouflaged against birch - its larval host. In the Scottish Highlands area the population has a rather darker colouration. The adults of this species may be found resting in crevices on the trunks of the host birch trees. The foodplant is birch, the larvae living between spun or folded leaves, and feeding within. The species is well distributed in England and Wales, except the south-west, and also occurs in the Scottish Highlands. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Gelechiidae
- Genus
- Carpatolechia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
The adults of this species may be found resting in crevices on the trunks of the host birch trees.
Seasonal Activity
From June to August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The foodplant is birch, the larvae living between spun or folded leaves, and feeding within.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The species is well distributed in England and Wales, except the south-west, and also occurs in the Scottish Highlands. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Carpatolechia alburnella. 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 Carpatolechia alburnella (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Carpatolechia alburnella
What is Carpatolechia alburnella?
Carpatolechia alburnella is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Carpatolechia alburnella found?
Habitat: The adults of this species may be found resting in crevices on the trunks of the host birch trees.
When is Carpatolechia alburnella active?
Carpatolechia alburnella: seasonal activity - From June to August..
What is the life cycle of a Carpatolechia alburnella?
The foodplant is birch, the larvae living between spun or folded leaves, and feeding within.