Etainia louisella
This record describes Etainia louisella (species). Recorded family: Nepticulidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan approx 7 mm. The species has a black ground colour with creamy yellow markings and a reddish head. Adults need to be identified by genitalia examination. The larva mines the 'keys' of Field Maple. Ectoedemia sericopeza is very similar but has whiter markings. In Ectoedemia louisella markings are slightly yellower and the collar is often broader. Photograph the mine and identify host speces in comments Adult moths are on the wing in April/May and possibly in two further generations in late summer/autumn. The larva mines in the seeds (samaras) of Field Maple forming an irregular gallery commencing in the wing and concluding in the seed itself. It occurs chiefly in the south and southern half of England. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/E.louisella.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/monotrysia/nepticuloidea/nepticulidae/etainia/etainia-louisella/
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Nepticulidae
- Genus
- Etainia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Found where Field Maple is present.
Seasonal Activity
Adult moths are on the wing in April/May and possibly in two further generations in late summer/autumn.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva mines in the seeds (samaras) of Field Maple forming an irregular gallery commencing in the wing and concluding in the seed itself.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It occurs chiefly in the south and southern half of England. 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 Etainia louisella. 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 Etainia louisella (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Etainia louisella
What is Etainia louisella?
Etainia louisella is a species in the family Nepticulidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Etainia louisella found?
Habitat: Found where Field Maple is present.
When is Etainia louisella active?
Etainia louisella: seasonal activity - Adult moths are on the wing in April/May and possibly in two further generations in late summer/autumn..
What is the life cycle of a Etainia louisella?
The larva mines in the seeds (samaras) of Field Maple forming an irregular gallery commencing in the wing and concluding in the seed itself.