Esperia sulphurella
This record describes Esperia sulphurella (species). Recorded family: Oecophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 12-16 mm. A tiny, chocolate-brown moth, marked with lemon-yellow. It rests with its antennae held forward. The antennae are marked with white about two-thirds along their length. It flies during the day in May and June. Fairly frequent throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Esperia sulphurella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperia sulphurella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Oecophoridae (Concealer Moths)
- Subfamily
- Oecophorinae
- Tribe
- Oecophorini
- Genus
- Esperia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Woodland, hedgerows and gardens.
Seasonal Activity
It flies during the day in May and June.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larvae feed on dead wood.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly frequent throughout Britain. 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 Esperia sulphurella. 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 Esperia sulphurella (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Esperia sulphurella
What is Esperia sulphurella?
Esperia sulphurella is a species in the family Oecophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Esperia sulphurella found?
Habitat: Woodland, hedgerows and gardens.
When is Esperia sulphurella active?
Esperia sulphurella: seasonal activity - It flies during the day in May and June..
What is the life cycle of a Esperia sulphurella?
Larvae feed on dead wood.