Parornix torquillella
This record describes Parornix torquillella (species). Recorded family: Gracillariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 9 to 10 mm. The adults are difficult to separate from some Parornix species, especially Parornix finitimella , and genitalia examination is usually necessary to identify them. The two mines are identical, but the larvae are quite different; Parornix torquillella is green with green legs, P. finitimella grey with blackish legs. Only tenanted leaf-mines can be recorded. Photographs must show the mine on the leaf, and the larva clearly showing the colour of front (thoracic) legs The moths fly from May to July, and are sometimes attracted to light. The main foodplant of this species is Blackthorn in common with its close relative, Parornix finitimella . Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/D.torquillella.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gracillarioidea/gracillariidae/gracillariinae/parornix/parornix-torquillella/
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
Areas where Blackthorn is present.
Seasonal Activity
The moths fly from May to July, and are sometimes attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The main foodplant of this species is Blackthorn in common with its close relative,
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain. 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 torquillella. 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 torquillella (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Parornix torquillella
What is Parornix torquillella?
Parornix torquillella is a species in the family Gracillariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Parornix torquillella found?
Habitat: Areas where Blackthorn is present.
When is Parornix torquillella active?
Parornix torquillella: seasonal activity - The moths fly from May to July, and are sometimes attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Parornix torquillella?
The main foodplant of this species is Blackthorn in common with its close relative,