Epermenia chaerophyllella
This record describes Epermenia chaerophyllella (species). Recorded family: Epermeniidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 12 to14 mm. A rather variable but distinctive species, with its raised triangular scale-tufts visible when at rest. The moth is a mixture of blackish, chestnut and white in variable amounts. Larval stages: photogrpah leaf mine and caterpillars; note host plant species in comments Well vegetated areas with plenty of umbellifers. All year round. It occurs in two or three generations with the last generation overwintering as an adult. The larvae feed on umbelliferous plants, perhaps most often Hogweed but also Wild Parsnip and Angelica among others. In later instars the larvae feed gregariously on the underside of the leaves, creating distinctive feeding windows. Said to be fairly common in Britain but records are very scattered. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Epermenia chaerophyllella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epermenia_chaerophyllella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Epermeniidae
- Genus
- Epermenia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Well vegetated areas with plenty of umbellifers.
Seasonal Activity
All year round. It occurs in two or three generations with the last generation overwintering as an adult.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on umbelliferous plants, perhaps most often Hogweed but also Wild Parsnip and Angelica among others. In later instars the larvae feed gregariously on the underside of the leaves, creating distinctive feeding windows.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Said to be fairly common in Britain but records are very scattered. 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 Epermenia chaerophyllella. 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 Epermenia chaerophyllella (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Epermenia chaerophyllella
What is Epermenia chaerophyllella?
Epermenia chaerophyllella is a species in the family Epermeniidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Epermenia chaerophyllella found?
Habitat: Well vegetated areas with plenty of umbellifers.
When is Epermenia chaerophyllella active?
Epermenia chaerophyllella: seasonal activity - All year round. It occurs in two or three generations with the last generation overwintering as an adult..
What is the life cycle of a Epermenia chaerophyllella?
The larvae feed on umbelliferous plants, perhaps most often Hogweed but also Wild Parsnip and Angelica among others. In later instars the larvae feed gregariously on the underside of the leaves, creating distinctive feeding windows.