Gelechia senticetella
This record describes Gelechia senticetella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
In common with a number other species using the same foodplants, is expanding its range due to their use in gardens. The adults fly in July and August and are most often found in garden light-traps. A species which appears to be on the increase. It is believed to have been introduced with the foodplant and first appeared in Essex in 1988. Since then there have been quite a number of records, mostly from the south-east of England. In the Butterfly Conservations Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Gelechiidae
- Genus
- Gelechia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
In common with a number other species using the same foodplants, is expanding its range due to their use in gardens.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in July and August and are most often found in garden light-traps.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva feeds on juniper and cypress.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A species which appears to be on the increase. It is believed to have been introduced with the foodplant and first appeared in Essex in 1988. Since then there have been quite a number of records, mostly from the south-east of England. In the Butterfly Conservations Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce B.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Gelechia senticetella. 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 Gelechia senticetella (4)
Frequently Asked Questions About Gelechia senticetella
What is Gelechia senticetella?
Gelechia senticetella is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Gelechia senticetella found?
Habitat: In common with a number other species using the same foodplants, is expanding its range due to their use in gardens.
When is Gelechia senticetella active?
Gelechia senticetella: seasonal activity - The adults fly in July and August and are most often found in garden light-traps..
What is the life cycle of a Gelechia senticetella?
The larva feeds on juniper and cypress.