Elachista apicipunctella
This record describes Elachista apicipunctella (species). Recorded family: Elachistidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 10-11 mm. The adult moth can be identified by its white head and in particular the extra white subapical spot on the forewing beyond the costal and tornal spots. Woodland clearings and well wooded areas. The adult moths emerge in a single generation from late April to June in the south and somewhat later in the north, from June to July. There may occasionally be the emergence of a second generation in the south. The larvae of this species feed on various grasses, forming a mine within which the larva is able to overwinter. This moth is found throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Elachistidae
- Genus
- Elachista
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Woodland clearings and well wooded areas.
Seasonal Activity
The adult moths emerge in a single generation from late April to June in the south and somewhat later in the north, from June to July. There may occasionally be the emergence of a second generation in the south.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae of this species feed on various grasses, forming a mine within which the larva is able to overwinter.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This moth is found throughout Britain. 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 Elachista apicipunctella. 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 Elachista apicipunctella (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Elachista apicipunctella
What is Elachista apicipunctella?
Elachista apicipunctella is a species in the family Elachistidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Elachista apicipunctella found?
Habitat: Woodland clearings and well wooded areas.
When is Elachista apicipunctella active?
Elachista apicipunctella: seasonal activity - The adult moths emerge in a single generation from late April to June in the south and somewhat later in the north, from June to July. There may occasionally be the emergence of a second generation in the south..
What is the life cycle of a Elachista apicipunctella?
The larvae of this species feed on various grasses, forming a mine within which the larva is able to overwinter.