Orthotelia sparganella
This record describes Orthotelia sparganella (species). Recorded family: Glyphipterigidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 20 to 28 mm. A fairly distinctive species, with a rather tent like body shape and with an ochreous or brownish wing colour that usually has noticeably paler venation and a faint row of darker dots near the dorsal edge of the wing. The larvae mine the stems or leaves of waterside plants such as Bur-reed, Iris, Reed Sweet-grass and other rushes. Provide backlit photo of leafmine and note host species Occupies wet localities such as ponds and canals. The adults fly in July and August and come sparingly to light. Bur-reed ( Sparganium ), Iris, Reed Sweet-grass ( Glyceria maxima) and other rushes of wet marginal vegetation may be mined. The larvae mine the leaves or stems. It is locally distributed from southern England northwards to southern Scotland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/O.sparganella.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/yponomeutoidea/glyphipterigidae/orthoteliinae/orthotelia/orthotelia-sparganella/
Wikipedia reference for Orthotelia sparganella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthotelia.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Glyphipterigidae
- Genus
- Orthotelia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occupies wet localities such as ponds and canals.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in July and August and come sparingly to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Bur-reed (
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is locally distributed from southern England northwards to southern Scotland. 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 Orthotelia sparganella. 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 Orthotelia sparganella (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Orthotelia sparganella
What is Orthotelia sparganella?
Orthotelia sparganella is a species in the family Glyphipterigidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Orthotelia sparganella found?
Habitat: Occupies wet localities such as ponds and canals.
When is Orthotelia sparganella active?
Orthotelia sparganella: seasonal activity - The adults fly in July and August and come sparingly to light..
What is the life cycle of a Orthotelia sparganella?
Bur-reed (