Micropterix tunbergella
This record describes Micropterix tunbergella (species). Recorded family: Micropterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 8 to11 mm. An attractive little moth, with purplish markings on a metallic golden ground colour and orange-tufted head. Adults are on wing from May to July and fly during the day. Like others in the genus, the life history of the early stages is more or less unknown, but the adult moths feed on the pollen of various flowers, chiefly those of Oak, Sycamore and Hawthorn. It has been recorded from Wales and most English counties but is scarce or unknown in Scotland and Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
Wikipedia reference for Micropterix tunbergella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micropterix_tunbergella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Micropterigidae
- Genus
- Micropterix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Often associated with woodland.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are on wing from May to July and fly during the day.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Like others in the genus, the life history of the early stages is more or less unknown, but the adult moths feed on the pollen of various flowers, chiefly those of Oak, Sycamore and Hawthorn.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It has been recorded from Wales and most English counties but is scarce or unknown in Scotland and Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Micropterix tunbergella. 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 Micropterix tunbergella (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Micropterix tunbergella
What is Micropterix tunbergella?
Micropterix tunbergella is a species in the family Micropterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Micropterix tunbergella found?
Habitat: Often associated with woodland.
When is Micropterix tunbergella active?
Micropterix tunbergella: seasonal activity - Adults are on wing from May to July and fly during the day..
What is the life cycle of a Micropterix tunbergella?
Like others in the genus, the life history of the early stages is more or less unknown, but the adult moths feed on the pollen of various flowers, chiefly those of Oak, Sycamore and Hawthorn.