Metalampra italica
This record describes Metalampra italica (species). Recorded family: Oecophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan about 12 to 14 mm. The adults are quite distinctive with a golden brown ground colour and paler markings. Metalampra cinnamomea which has so far not been recorded locally is similar, but has a darker ground colour in the forewing. Good supporting image(s) required please. Formerly only encountered as a migrant but now believed to be breeding in parts of the UK. It is associated with Oak. The larvae feed in the dead or decaying wood of oak. This species was encountered in Britain for the first time in 2003, in Devon. Since then it has been found in at least a dozen counties in the south of England and Wales, and is now believed to be a breeding resident and spreading rapidly. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as migrant colonist.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Oecophoridae
- Genus
- Metalampra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Formerly only encountered as a migrant but now believed to be breeding in parts of the UK. It is associated with Oak.
Seasonal Activity
June to August or September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed in the dead or decaying wood of oak.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species was encountered in Britain for the first time in 2003, in Devon. Since then it has been found in at least a dozen counties in the south of England and Wales, and is now believed to be a breeding resident and spreading rapidly. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as migrant colonist.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Metalampra italica. 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 Metalampra italica (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Metalampra italica
What is Metalampra italica?
Metalampra italica is a species in the family Oecophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Metalampra italica found?
Habitat: Formerly only encountered as a migrant but now believed to be breeding in parts of the UK. It is associated with Oak.
When is Metalampra italica active?
Metalampra italica: seasonal activity - June to August or September..
What is the life cycle of a Metalampra italica?
The larvae feed in the dead or decaying wood of oak.