Oecophora bractella - Hodges#1069.1
Oecophora bractella
This record describes Oecophora bractella (species). Recorded family: Oecophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Oecophoridae (Concealer Moths)
- Subfamily
- Oecophorinae
- Tribe
- Oecophorini
- Genus
- Oecophora
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Introduced to Washington-British Columbia. The first North America specimen collected with a blacklight trap in Seattle, Washington on June 30, 1998. Found throughout Europe, but is rare to uncommon.
Seasonal Activity
May-Aug
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae are associated with fungi in rotting wood.
Life History
Adults active in early morning sunshine.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: bracte - Latin for a thin metal plate
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Oecophora bractella. 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 Oecophora bractella - Hodges#1069.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Sean McCann; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Oecophora bractella - Hodges#1069.1
How big is Oecophora bractella - Hodges#1069.1?
Wingspan 12-16 mm
Where is Oecophora bractella - Hodges#1069.1 found?
Range: Introduced to Washington-British Columbia. The first North America specimen collected with a blacklight trap in Seattle, Washington on June 30, 1998. Found throughout Europe, but is rare to uncommon.
What does Oecophora bractella - Hodges#1069.1 eat?
The diet of the Oecophora bractella - Hodges#1069.1 includes Larvae are associated with fungi in rotting wood..
When is Oecophora bractella - Hodges#1069.1 active?
Oecophora bractella - Hodges#1069.1: seasonal activity - May-Aug.
What is the life cycle of a Oecophora bractella - Hodges#1069.1?
Adults active in early morning sunshine.