Neofaculta ericetella
This record describes Neofaculta ericetella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The adults fly in a single generation from late April to June. These are attracted to light at night but can also be disturbed from the foodplant during the day. This species lays its eggs on Heather. The larvae emerge to feed on the flowers, later feeding in larval spinnings on the shoots. The moth is common throughout Britain and can be found wherever heather grows. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Gelechiidae
- Genus
- Neofaculta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around Heather.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in a single generation from late April to June. These are attracted to light at night but can also be disturbed from the foodplant during the day.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
This species lays its eggs on Heather. The larvae emerge to feed on the flowers, later feeding in larval spinnings on the shoots.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The moth is common throughout Britain and can be found wherever heather grows. 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 Neofaculta ericetella. 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 Neofaculta ericetella (2)
Frequently Asked Questions About Neofaculta ericetella
What is Neofaculta ericetella?
Neofaculta ericetella is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Neofaculta ericetella found?
Habitat: Around Heather.
When is Neofaculta ericetella active?
Neofaculta ericetella: seasonal activity - The adults fly in a single generation from late April to June. These are attracted to light at night but can also be disturbed from the foodplant during the day..
What is the life cycle of a Neofaculta ericetella?
This species lays its eggs on Heather. The larvae emerge to feed on the flowers, later feeding in larval spinnings on the shoots.