Crassa unitella
This record describes Crassa unitella (species). Recorded family: Oecophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Golden-brown, with contrasting orange head and palps. Larvae- (from late September to May), feed on fungus on and under dead bark. This species is locally common in Southern England, and occurs more scarcely as far North as Lancashire and Yorkshire. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Crassa unitella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crassa unitella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Oecophoridae (Concealer Moths)
- Genus
- Crassa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Well wooded areas.
Seasonal Activity
Late June to August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larvae- (from late September to May), feed on fungus on and under dead bark.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species is locally common in Southern England, and occurs more scarcely as far North as Lancashire and Yorkshire. 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 Crassa unitella. 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 Crassa unitella (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Crassa unitella
What is Crassa unitella?
Crassa unitella is a species in the family Oecophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Crassa unitella found?
Habitat: Well wooded areas.
When is Crassa unitella active?
Crassa unitella: seasonal activity - Late June to August..
What is the life cycle of a Crassa unitella?
Larvae- (from late September to May), feed on fungus on and under dead bark.