Elachista triatomea
This record describes Elachista triatomea (species). Recorded family: Elachistidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Elachistidae Wingspan 8 or 9 mm. One of several similar whitish, the specific name triatomea describes the three darker specks on the pale forewing. Grassland, where the larvae mine blades of fescue grasses (Festuca sp.). It is distributed from south-east England to southern Scotland, but rare in south-west England and Wales, and only scattered in 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
Grassland, where the larvae mine blades of fescue grasses (Festuca sp.).
Seasonal Activity
The adult moths fly in June and July.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is distributed from south-east England to southern Scotland, but rare in south-west England and Wales, and only scattered in 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 triatomea. 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 triatomea (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Elachista triatomea
What is Elachista triatomea?
Elachista triatomea is a species in the family Elachistidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Elachista triatomea found?
Habitat: Grassland, where the larvae mine blades of fescue grasses (Festuca sp.).
When is Elachista triatomea active?
Elachista triatomea: seasonal activity - The adult moths fly in June and July..