Monochroa tenebrella
This record describes Monochroa tenebrella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan about 11 mm. A uniformly brown species. The female has white tipped antennae. Determination by genitalia examination (gen. det.) required. It frequents open grassy areas and heathland. Adult moths can be found in June and July, when they fly during the day, especially in sunshine. The larva feeds on the roots of Sheep's Sorrel. Well-distributed across much of Britain but rather local. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. 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
It frequents open grassy areas and heathland.
Seasonal Activity
Adult moths can be found in June and July, when they fly during the day, especially in sunshine.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva feeds on the roots of Sheep's Sorrel.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Well-distributed across much of Britain but rather local. 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 Monochroa tenebrella. 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 Monochroa tenebrella (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Monochroa tenebrella
What is Monochroa tenebrella?
Monochroa tenebrella is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Monochroa tenebrella found?
Habitat: It frequents open grassy areas and heathland.
When is Monochroa tenebrella active?
Monochroa tenebrella: seasonal activity - Adult moths can be found in June and July, when they fly during the day, especially in sunshine..
What is the life cycle of a Monochroa tenebrella?
The larva feeds on the roots of Sheep's Sorrel.