Parornix scoticella
This record describes Parornix scoticella (species). Recorded family: Gracillariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan around 10mm. They resemble other species of Parornix, but do show distinctive white palps and frons. Parornix larvae have 4 distinctive black dots on the prothoracic plate (behind the head) Frequenting gardens and woodland in the south, and more linked to higher ground in the north. Adult moths are on the wing in two generations in the south; in May and again in August. Further north there is just one generation in August. The larva feeds on Rowan and Whitebeam; occasionally on Apple. A blotch is formed in the leaf which turns brown, and the larva pupates in a folded portion of the leaf. This species is distributed widely over much of the British Isles. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/P.scoticella.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gracillarioidea/gracillariidae/gracillariinae/parornix/parornix-scoticella/
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Gracillariidae
- Genus
- Parornix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Frequenting gardens and woodland in the south, and more linked to higher ground in the north.
Seasonal Activity
Adult moths are on the wing in two generations in the south; in May and again in August. Further north there is just one generation in August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva feeds on Rowan and Whitebeam; occasionally on Apple. A blotch is formed in the leaf which turns brown, and the larva pupates in a folded portion of the leaf.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species is distributed widely over much of the British Isles. 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 Parornix scoticella. 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 Parornix scoticella (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Parornix scoticella
What is Parornix scoticella?
Parornix scoticella is a species in the family Gracillariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Parornix scoticella found?
Habitat: Frequenting gardens and woodland in the south, and more linked to higher ground in the north.
When is Parornix scoticella active?
Parornix scoticella: seasonal activity - Adult moths are on the wing in two generations in the south; in May and again in August. Further north there is just one generation in August..
What is the life cycle of a Parornix scoticella?
The larva feeds on Rowan and Whitebeam; occasionally on Apple. A blotch is formed in the leaf which turns brown, and the larva pupates in a folded portion of the leaf.