Elachista bisulcella
This record describes Elachista bisulcella (species). Recorded family: Elachistidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Areas where the larval foodplants occur. Adult moths can be found on the wing between May and September in the south, probably in two generations, and in July and August further north. The larva feeds on Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) and Tall Fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), mining the leaf blades in a gallery from the tip downwards. This species has a scattered distributed over much of the British Isles, into Northern Scotland, and also occurs in Southern Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
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
Areas where the larval foodplants occur.
Seasonal Activity
Adult moths can be found on the wing between May and September in the south, probably in two generations, and in July and August further north.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva feeds on Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) and Tall Fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), mining the leaf blades in a gallery from the tip downwards.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species has a scattered distributed over much of the British Isles, into Northern Scotland, and also occurs in Southern Ireland. 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 bisulcella. 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 bisulcella (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Elachista bisulcella
What is Elachista bisulcella?
Elachista bisulcella is a species in the family Elachistidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Elachista bisulcella found?
Habitat: Areas where the larval foodplants occur.
When is Elachista bisulcella active?
Elachista bisulcella: seasonal activity - Adult moths can be found on the wing between May and September in the south, probably in two generations, and in July and August further north..
What is the life cycle of a Elachista bisulcella?
The larva feeds on Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) and Tall Fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus), mining the leaf blades in a gallery from the tip downwards.