Diurnea lipsiella
This record describes Diurnea lipsiella (species). Recorded family: Chimabachidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan about 23 mm (male) and 17 mm (female). In common with D. fagella, the females have under-developed wings (brachypterous). Areas where the larval foodplants are present. The adult moths are at large in October and November, when the males can be attracted to light. Oak (Quercus) and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) are the preferred larval foodplants in this country. Locally but widely distributed over much of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Wikipedia reference for Diurnea lipsiella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diurnea_lipsiella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Chimabachidae
- Genus
- Diurnea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Areas where the larval foodplants are present.
Seasonal Activity
The adult moths are at large in October and November, when the males can be attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Oak (Quercus) and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) are the preferred larval foodplants in this country.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Locally but widely distributed over much of the British Isles. 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 Diurnea lipsiella. 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 Diurnea lipsiella (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Diurnea lipsiella
What is Diurnea lipsiella?
Diurnea lipsiella is a species in the family Chimabachidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Diurnea lipsiella found?
Habitat: Areas where the larval foodplants are present.
When is Diurnea lipsiella active?
Diurnea lipsiella: seasonal activity - The adult moths are at large in October and November, when the males can be attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Diurnea lipsiella?
Oak (Quercus) and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) are the preferred larval foodplants in this country.