Incurvaria oehlmanniella
This record describes Incurvaria oehlmanniella (species). Recorded family: Incurvariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan about 14 mm. This species can be confused with I. masculella , but the yellowish marking on the costa, if present on masculella is closer to the head than the opposing tornal spot. In oehlmanniella , it is closer to the wingtip. In addition, the males of oehlmanniella have simple antennae. The larvae feed on Bilberry and Cloudberry at first mining the leaves, then cutting out a portable case and dropping to the ground, where they feed on dead leaves. The distribution covers much of the British Isles, where in the north it can be found at high altitudes. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Incurvaria oehlmanniella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incurvaria_oehlmanniella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Incurvariidae
- Genus
- Incurvaria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around the larval foodplants.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Bilberry and Cloudberry at first mining the leaves, then cutting out a portable case and dropping to the ground, where they feed on dead leaves.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The distribution covers much of the British Isles, where in the north it can be found at high altitudes. 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 Incurvaria oehlmanniella. 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 Incurvaria oehlmanniella (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Incurvaria oehlmanniella
What is Incurvaria oehlmanniella?
Incurvaria oehlmanniella is a species in the family Incurvariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Incurvaria oehlmanniella found?
Habitat: Around the larval foodplants.
When is Incurvaria oehlmanniella active?
Incurvaria oehlmanniella: seasonal activity - The adults fly in June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Incurvaria oehlmanniella?
The larvae feed on Bilberry and Cloudberry at first mining the leaves, then cutting out a portable case and dropping to the ground, where they feed on dead leaves.