Cauchas rufimitrella
This record describes Cauchas rufimitrella (species). Recorded family: Adelidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 9 to12 mm. Another of the longhorn moths, this species can be identified by the combination of the brassy green forewings and what has been described as an orange collar or yellow crown. As with the other moths of the genus, the antennae are of exceptional size, up to twice the length of the forewing in the male and one and a half times in the female. Flower Meadows and verges visiting flowers of the foodplants, Cuckoo Flower or Garlic Mustard. The single generation flies in May and June. Fairly common throughout the Southern half of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common..
Wikipedia reference for Cauchas rufimitrella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cauchas rufimitrella.
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
Flower Meadows and verges visiting flowers of the foodplants, Cuckoo Flower or Garlic Mustard.
Seasonal Activity
The single generation flies in May and June.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly common throughout the Southern half of 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 Cauchas rufimitrella. 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 rufimitrella (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Cauchas rufimitrella
What is Cauchas rufimitrella?
Cauchas rufimitrella is a species in the family Adelidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Cauchas rufimitrella found?
Habitat: Flower Meadows and verges visiting flowers of the foodplants, Cuckoo Flower or Garlic Mustard.
When is Cauchas rufimitrella active?
Cauchas rufimitrella: seasonal activity - The single generation flies in May and June..