Elachista rufocinerea
This record describes Elachista rufocinerea (species). Recorded family: Elachistidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 10 to11 mm. A fairly distinctive member of the genus Elachista , with its white ground colour speckled with reddish or buff, sometimes giving rise to a streaky appearance. A species of grassland areas, the larvae feed on a range of grasses, causing whitish mines on the blades. Larvae mine the leaves of various grasses. It occurs widely throughout the British Isles and is fairly common. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
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
A species of grassland areas, the larvae feed on a range of grasses, causing whitish mines on the blades.
Seasonal Activity
April to June.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larvae mine the leaves of various grasses.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It occurs widely throughout the British Isles and is fairly common. 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 rufocinerea. 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 rufocinerea (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Elachista rufocinerea
What is Elachista rufocinerea?
Elachista rufocinerea is a species in the family Elachistidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Elachista rufocinerea found?
Habitat: A species of grassland areas, the larvae feed on a range of grasses, causing whitish mines on the blades.
When is Elachista rufocinerea active?
Elachista rufocinerea: seasonal activity - April to June..
What is the life cycle of a Elachista rufocinerea?
Larvae mine the leaves of various grasses.