Morophaga choragella

This record describes Morophaga choragella (species). Recorded family: Tineidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Morophaga choragella - Morophaga choragella

Wingspan 18 to 32 mm. It bears a superficial resemblance to some other members of the family, but is generally larger, having a wingspan of up to 30mm. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required. If the photo doesn't show the key ID features then in the comments box describe the size and identifying characters you have observed. The moths fly between June and August, but are fairly inconspicuous. The larvae feed internally in bracket fungus, and possibly also on dead wood. Distributed locally in the south and south-east of England, there are a few scattered records further north to Northumberland. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Tineidae
Genus: Morophaga

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Habitat

Well wooded areas.

Seasonal Activity

The moths fly between June and August, but are fairly inconspicuous.

Diet and Behavior

Life History

The larvae feed internally in bracket fungus, and possibly also on dead wood.

Additional species information

Recorded status

Distributed locally in the south and south-east of England, there are a few scattered records further north to Northumberland. 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 Morophaga choragella. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →