Harpella forficella
This record describes Harpella forficella (species). Recorded family: Oecophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
This is a very distinctively marked brown and cream moth. It has been recorded in Britain in July and August. Adults fly in the afternoon and early evening and again at dawn, and can also be attracted to light. This species is widely distributed on the continent, where it's larvae are found in the dead wood of deciduous trees often under loose bark. Its larvae are also said to feed on Cramp Ball / King Alfred's Cake fungus. Very rare in Britain. The first record for this species in the UK was on 19th August 2011 in Wokingham, Berks; the second UK record was on 27th July 2012 in Sussex. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as an adventive.
Wikipedia reference for Harpella forficella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpella forficella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Oecophoridae (Concealer Moths)
- Genus
- Harpella
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Well wooded areas.
Seasonal Activity
It has been recorded in Britain in July and August. Adults fly in the afternoon and early evening and again at dawn, and can also be attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
This species is widely distributed on the continent, where it's larvae are found in the dead wood of deciduous trees often under loose bark. Its larvae are also said to feed on Cramp Ball / King Alfred's Cake fungus.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Very rare in Britain. The first record for this species in the UK was on 19th August 2011 in Wokingham, Berks; the second UK record was on 27th July 2012 in Sussex. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as an adventive.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Harpella forficella. 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 Harpella forficella (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Harpella forficella
What is Harpella forficella?
Harpella forficella is a species in the family Oecophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Harpella forficella found?
Habitat: Well wooded areas.
When is Harpella forficella active?
Harpella forficella: seasonal activity - It has been recorded in Britain in July and August. Adults fly in the afternoon and early evening and again at dawn, and can also be attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Harpella forficella?
This species is widely distributed on the continent, where it's larvae are found in the dead wood of deciduous trees often under loose bark. Its larvae are also said to feed on Cramp Ball / King Alfred's Cake fungus.