Monochroa hornigi
This record describes Monochroa hornigi (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 9 to 12 mm. A rather uniformly dark grey-brown species (though sometimes a lighter ochreous brown). Larval foodplants are Pale Persicaria (Persicaria lapathifolia) and possibly other Persicaria. This scarce and rather local species occurs mainly south of a line from Wiltshire to Bedfordshire with occasional records from elsewhere in England. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce A. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Gelechiidae
- Genus
- Monochroa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Damp bare ground and ditches.
Seasonal Activity
Single brooded, June to August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larval foodplants are Pale Persicaria (Persicaria lapathifolia) and possibly other Persicaria.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This scarce and rather local species occurs mainly south of a line from Wiltshire to Bedfordshire with occasional records from elsewhere in England. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce A.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Monochroa hornigi. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Monochroa hornigi
What is Monochroa hornigi?
Monochroa hornigi is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Monochroa hornigi found?
Habitat: Damp bare ground and ditches.
When is Monochroa hornigi active?
Monochroa hornigi: seasonal activity - Single brooded, June to August..
What is the life cycle of a Monochroa hornigi?
Larval foodplants are Pale Persicaria (Persicaria lapathifolia) and possibly other Persicaria.