Eriocrania cicatricella
This record describes Eriocrania cicatricella (species). Recorded family: Eriocraniidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 11mm. This is a tiny but quite beautiful little moth, its wings being a mix of metallic golds and purples when seen in the right light. All Eriocraniidae leafmines have spaghetti-like frass, in long threads. The larvae usually feed communally on one leaf and often the mines run together into a large blotch, giving the appearance of several larvae in one mine. The larvae are small, pale and translucent. When recording the adult, genitalia dissection is required. When recording the mine, you must check appearance of larvae and note whether they are feeding communally The adults fly around the foodplants during April, but are not often seen. Like several of its congeners, the larval foodplant is Birch, the larvae creating a blotch mine in the leaves during May, often feeding gregariously with several larvae in a single blotch. This spring-flying species is probably overlooked, but is generally well distributed throughout much of mainland Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/E.cicatricella.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/glossata/eriocraniidae/eriocrania/eriocrania-cicatricella/
Wikipedia reference for Eriocrania cicatricella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eriocrania_cicatricella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Eriocraniidae
- Genus
- Eriocrania
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around Birch.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly around the foodplants during April, but are not often seen.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Like several of its congeners, the larval foodplant is Birch, the larvae creating a blotch mine in the leaves during May, often feeding gregariously with several larvae in a single blotch.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This spring-flying species is probably overlooked, but is generally well distributed throughout much of mainland Britain. 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 Eriocrania cicatricella. 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 Eriocrania cicatricella (4)
Frequently Asked Questions About Eriocrania cicatricella
What is Eriocrania cicatricella?
Eriocrania cicatricella is a species in the family Eriocraniidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Eriocrania cicatricella found?
Habitat: Around Birch.
When is Eriocrania cicatricella active?
Eriocrania cicatricella: seasonal activity - The adults fly around the foodplants during April, but are not often seen..
What is the life cycle of a Eriocrania cicatricella?
Like several of its congeners, the larval foodplant is Birch, the larvae creating a blotch mine in the leaves during May, often feeding gregariously with several larvae in a single blotch.