Glyphipterix thrasonella
This record describes Glyphipterix thrasonella (species). Recorded family: Glyphipterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 11-15 mm. A rather distinctive species of Glyphipterix, with its silver and black markings against a bronzy forewing and peculiarly indented termen. Aquatic habitats, wetland and marshy areas where Juncus species are present. The moths can be found flying among the foodplants, rushes in sunshine. The flight period is May to August. The early stages are still not fully described but the larvae are believed to feed internally in stems of rushes (Juncus). The species is widespread and usually common throughout much of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Glyphipterix thrasonella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyphipterix_thrasonella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Glyphipterigidae
- Genus
- Glyphipterix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Aquatic habitats, wetland and marshy areas where Juncus species are present.
Seasonal Activity
The moths can be found flying among the foodplants, rushes in sunshine. The flight period is May to August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The early stages are still not fully described but the larvae are believed to feed internally in stems of rushes (Juncus).
Additional species information
Recorded status
The species is widespread and usually common throughout much of the British Isles. 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 Glyphipterix thrasonella. 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 Glyphipterix thrasonella (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Glyphipterix thrasonella
What is Glyphipterix thrasonella?
Glyphipterix thrasonella is a species in the family Glyphipterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Glyphipterix thrasonella found?
Habitat: Aquatic habitats, wetland and marshy areas where Juncus species are present.
When is Glyphipterix thrasonella active?
Glyphipterix thrasonella: seasonal activity - The moths can be found flying among the foodplants, rushes in sunshine. The flight period is May to August..
What is the life cycle of a Glyphipterix thrasonella?
The early stages are still not fully described but the larvae are believed to feed internally in stems of rushes (Juncus).