Coleophora orbitella

This record describes Coleophora orbitella (species). Recorded family: Coleophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Coleophora orbitella - Coleophora orbitella

Wingspan 10.5 to 14mm. Adults resemble other Coleophora species, so genitalia identification is required. A number of other Coleophora species are similar. Adult: Determination by genitalia examination (gen. det.) required. Cased larva - good quality photograph of the cased larva required and a note of the plant on which the larva was feeding. It may not always be possible to identify from cased larva without rearing. Adults on the wing between late May and July or early August. Larval cased may sometimes be seen as early as June, but more often in September and October. Quite widespread, but infrequent in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B Rarely recorded in Leicestershite and Rutland (VC55)

Identification notes

is required.

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Coleophoridae
Genus: Coleophora

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Habitat

Associated with Birch and Alder.

Seasonal Activity

Adults on the wing between late May and July or early August.

Additional species information

Recorded status

Quite widespread, but infrequent in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Coleophora orbitella. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →