Adela cuprella
This record describes Adela cuprella (species). Recorded family: Adelidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan about 15 mm. The male has very white, long antennae, hairy black head and gold forewings with a purple edge. The females have much shorter, black antennae and are orange or yellowish on the head. Around willow. Adults tend to spend a lot of their time around the tops of Willow trees on sunny days. The eggs are laid in the catkins of Willow ( Salix ), but on hatching the larvae drop to the ground and feed amongst the leaf litter in a portable case constructed from fragments of vegetation. This species has a wide distribution across much of mainland Britain, but is rather local. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
Wikipedia reference for Adela cuprella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adela_cuprella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Adeloidea
- Family
- Adelidae (Fairy Moths)
- Subfamily
- Adelinae
- Genus
- Adela
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around willow. Adults tend to spend a lot of their time around the tops of Willow trees on sunny days.
Seasonal Activity
March to May
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The eggs are laid in the catkins of Willow (
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species has a wide distribution across much of mainland Britain, but is rather local. 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 Adela cuprella. 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 Adela cuprella (4)
Frequently Asked Questions About Adela cuprella
What is Adela cuprella?
Adela cuprella is a species in the family Adelidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Adela cuprella found?
Habitat: Around willow. Adults tend to spend a lot of their time around the tops of Willow trees on sunny days.
When is Adela cuprella active?
Adela cuprella: seasonal activity - March to May.
What is the life cycle of a Adela cuprella?
The eggs are laid in the catkins of Willow (