Cauchas fibulella
This record describes Cauchas fibulella (species). Recorded family: Adelidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 8 to 11 mm. The smallest of the British Adelinae, with a distinctive pale mark on the centre of the forewing, and often a second, smaller pale blotch nearer the base. Unlike some of its relatives, the antennae of the male are only slightly longer than those of the female. Where the larval foodplant, Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys) is present. The moths are on the wing in June and fly in sunshine, often visiting the flowers of the foodplant. The foodplant is Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys), the larvae feeding initially on the seeds, later building a portable case from fragments of plant, and feeding on the leaves close to the ground. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Cauchas fibulella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cauchas fibulella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Adeloidea
- Family
- Adelidae (Fairy Moths)
- Subfamily
- Adelinae
- Genus
- Cauchas
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Where the larval foodplant, Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys) is present.
Seasonal Activity
The moths are on the wing in June and fly in sunshine, often visiting the flowers of the foodplant.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The foodplant is Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys), the larvae feeding initially on the seeds, later building a portable case from fragments of plant, and feeding on the leaves close to the ground.
Additional species information
Recorded status
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 Cauchas fibulella. 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 Cauchas fibulella (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Cauchas fibulella
What is Cauchas fibulella?
Cauchas fibulella is a species in the family Adelidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Cauchas fibulella found?
Habitat: Where the larval foodplant, Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys) is present.
When is Cauchas fibulella active?
Cauchas fibulella: seasonal activity - The moths are on the wing in June and fly in sunshine, often visiting the flowers of the foodplant..
What is the life cycle of a Cauchas fibulella?
The foodplant is Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys), the larvae feeding initially on the seeds, later building a portable case from fragments of plant, and feeding on the leaves close to the ground.