Paraswammerdamia nebulella
This record describes Paraswammerdamia nebulella (species). Recorded family: Yponomeutidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 11-14 mm. Small greyish moth with a white head. It flies at night during July and is frequently taken at light. Larva mines leaves of Hawthorn, Rowan and Dog Rose, subsequently living within a silken web, often several together. The larva overwinters when small. Fairly common species throughout Britain except the far north. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Paraswammerdamia nebulella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraswammerdamia_lutarea.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Yponomeutoidea
- Family
- Yponomeutidae (Ermine Moths)
- Subfamily
- Yponomeutinae
- Tribe
- Yponomeutini
- Genus
- Paraswammerdamia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Hedgerows and open woodland.
Seasonal Activity
It flies at night during July and is frequently taken at light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva mines leaves of Hawthorn, Rowan and Dog Rose, subsequently living within a silken web, often several together. The larva overwinters when small.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly common species throughout Britain except the far north. 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 Paraswammerdamia nebulella. 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 Paraswammerdamia nebulella (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Paraswammerdamia nebulella
What is Paraswammerdamia nebulella?
Paraswammerdamia nebulella is a species in the family Yponomeutidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Paraswammerdamia nebulella found?
Habitat: Hedgerows and open woodland.
When is Paraswammerdamia nebulella active?
Paraswammerdamia nebulella: seasonal activity - It flies at night during July and is frequently taken at light..
What is the life cycle of a Paraswammerdamia nebulella?
Larva mines leaves of Hawthorn, Rowan and Dog Rose, subsequently living within a silken web, often several together. The larva overwinters when small.