Chrysoesthia sexguttella
This record describes Chrysoesthia sexguttella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 8 to 10 mm. The larva mines the leaves of Goosefoot ( Chenopodium ) and Orache ( Atriplex ) and other plants in this family, creating a clear blotch mine with black frass in large lumps Some species of fly also mine Chenopodiaceae, and mines can be similar Backlit image of mine; note host species Roadside verges, disturbed and waste areas where the larval foodplants Orache, Fat-hen and Goosefoots are found. A bivoltine species, with adults on the wing in May and June, then again in August. The larva is a leaf-miner, creating whitish blotches in the leaves of the foodplants Orache, Fat-hen and Goosefoots. Widely distributed throughout the British Isles, and common in some places. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/C.sexguttella.htm
Wikipedia reference for Chrysoesthia sexguttella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysoesthia_sexguttella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Apatetrinae
- Tribe
- Apatetrini
- Genus
- Chrysoesthia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Roadside verges, disturbed and waste areas where the larval foodplants Orache, Fat-hen and Goosefoots are found.
Seasonal Activity
A bivoltine species, with adults on the wing in May and June, then again in August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva is a leaf-miner, creating whitish blotches in the leaves of the foodplants Orache, Fat-hen and Goosefoots.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widely distributed throughout the British Isles, and common in some places. 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 Chrysoesthia sexguttella. 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 Chrysoesthia sexguttella (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Chrysoesthia sexguttella
What is Chrysoesthia sexguttella?
Chrysoesthia sexguttella is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Chrysoesthia sexguttella found?
Habitat: Roadside verges, disturbed and waste areas where the larval foodplants Orache, Fat-hen and Goosefoots are found.
When is Chrysoesthia sexguttella active?
Chrysoesthia sexguttella: seasonal activity - A bivoltine species, with adults on the wing in May and June, then again in August..
What is the life cycle of a Chrysoesthia sexguttella?
The larva is a leaf-miner, creating whitish blotches in the leaves of the foodplants Orache, Fat-hen and Goosefoots.