Mirificarma mulinella
This record describes Mirificarma mulinella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 11 to 15 mm. This moth may frequently be identified by a pair of dark stripes running longitudinally down each forewing. However in some individuals these stripes may merge. In others, they may be absent altogether making identification difficult. The adult moth flies from July to September. The larvae feed on Gorse and Broom, feeding on the flowers before pupating amongst the leaves on the ground. Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. No additional images available for this species.
Identification notes
difficult.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Gelechiidae
- Genus
- Mirificarma
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Heathland and wasteland.
Seasonal Activity
The adult moth flies from July to September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Gorse and Broom, feeding on the flowers before pupating amongst the leaves on the ground.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain. 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 Mirificarma mulinella. 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 Mirificarma mulinella (5)
Frequently Asked Questions About Mirificarma mulinella
What is Mirificarma mulinella?
Mirificarma mulinella is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Mirificarma mulinella?
difficult.
Where is Mirificarma mulinella found?
Habitat: Heathland and wasteland.
When is Mirificarma mulinella active?
Mirificarma mulinella: seasonal activity - The adult moth flies from July to September..
What is the life cycle of a Mirificarma mulinella?
The larvae feed on Gorse and Broom, feeding on the flowers before pupating amongst the leaves on the ground.