Limnaecia phragmitella
This record describes Limnaecia phragmitella (species). Recorded family: Cosmopterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 22 mm. A pale buff or brownish species with a couple of darker 'eye' patterns on each wing. The adults fly in July from dusk into the night. The larvae feed inside the seedheads of Bulrush ( Typha sp.) throughout the winter. They can often be detected by the presence of quantities of protruding down. Quite widely distributed and sometimes fairly common in damp areas over a large part of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Limnaecia phragmitella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limnaecia_phragmitella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Cosmopterigidae (Cosmet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Cosmopteriginae
- Genus
- Limnaecia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occupies fens and marshes.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in July from dusk into the night.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed inside the seedheads of Bulrush (
Additional species information
Recorded status
Quite widely distributed and sometimes fairly common in damp areas over a large part 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 Limnaecia phragmitella. 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 Limnaecia phragmitella (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Limnaecia phragmitella
What is Limnaecia phragmitella?
Limnaecia phragmitella is a species in the family Cosmopterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Limnaecia phragmitella found?
Habitat: Occupies fens and marshes.
When is Limnaecia phragmitella active?
Limnaecia phragmitella: seasonal activity - The adults fly in July from dusk into the night..
What is the life cycle of a Limnaecia phragmitella?
The larvae feed inside the seedheads of Bulrush (