Denisia similella
This record describes Denisia similella (species). Recorded family: Oecophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan: 12 to 16 mm. It has a dark maroon-brown forewing sometimes almost black, and being darker in the female, thinly scattered with yellowish scales and with four, variably shaped, yellow blotches. Moths are on the wing from June to early August and fly in the evening, sometimes being attracted to light. The larva feeds on fungus under dead wood or bark, and possibly has a two-year life cycle. A relatively scarce species, distributed in the northern half of Britain, most commonly in parts of Scotland. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Oecophoridae
- Genus
- Denisia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Well wooded areas.
Seasonal Activity
Moths are on the wing from June to early August and fly in the evening, sometimes being attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva feeds on fungus under dead wood or bark, and possibly has a two-year life cycle.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A relatively scarce species, distributed in the northern half of Britain, most commonly in parts of Scotland. 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 Denisia similella. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Denisia similella
What is Denisia similella?
Denisia similella is a species in the family Oecophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Denisia similella found?
Habitat: Well wooded areas.
When is Denisia similella active?
Denisia similella: seasonal activity - Moths are on the wing from June to early August and fly in the evening, sometimes being attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Denisia similella?
The larva feeds on fungus under dead wood or bark, and possibly has a two-year life cycle.