Elachista argentella
This record describes Elachista argentella (species). Recorded family: Elachistidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 11 to 12 mm. This is a small, all-white species. It occurs in grassy habitats, flower meadows etc. The adults are on the wing mostly in June and July, and fly from evening onwards, being attracted to light after darkness. They can be disturbed from grassland during the day. The larvae feed on a number of different species of grass, mining the leaves. Fairly common throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Elachista argentella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elachista_argentella.
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
It occurs in grassy habitats, flower meadows etc.
Seasonal Activity
The adults are on the wing mostly in June and July, and fly from evening onwards, being attracted to light after darkness. They can be disturbed from grassland during the day.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on a number of different species of grass, mining the leaves.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly common throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Elachista argentella. 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 argentella (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Elachista argentella
What is Elachista argentella?
Elachista argentella is a species in the family Elachistidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Elachista argentella found?
Habitat: It occurs in grassy habitats, flower meadows etc.
When is Elachista argentella active?
Elachista argentella: seasonal activity - The adults are on the wing mostly in June and July, and fly from evening onwards, being attracted to light after darkness. They can be disturbed from grassland during the day..
What is the life cycle of a Elachista argentella?
The larvae feed on a number of different species of grass, mining the leaves.