Eidophasia messingiella
This record describes Eidophasia messingiella (species). Recorded family: Plutellidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 14 to 16 mm. Its blackish colouration and pale central band make this a very distinctive species. Please provide a photograph to support your record for this uncommon species. Found on wasteland, being closely associated with its foodplant - Hoary Cress. Flies in in June to July and can be attracted to light. It is found locally in England and Wales and can be more common in southern England. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
Wikipedia reference for Eidophasia messingiella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eidophasia_messingiella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Yponomeutoidea
- Family
- Plutellidae
- Genus
- Eidophasia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Found on wasteland, being closely associated with its foodplant - Hoary Cress.
Seasonal Activity
Flies in in June to July and can be attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Univoltine.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is found locally in England and Wales and can be more common in southern 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 Eidophasia messingiella. 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 Eidophasia messingiella (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Eidophasia messingiella
What is Eidophasia messingiella?
Eidophasia messingiella is a species in the family Plutellidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Eidophasia messingiella found?
Habitat: Found on wasteland, being closely associated with its foodplant - Hoary Cress.
When is Eidophasia messingiella active?
Eidophasia messingiella: seasonal activity - Flies in in June to July and can be attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Eidophasia messingiella?
Univoltine.