Phyllonorycter harrisella
This record describes Phyllonorycter harrisella (species). Recorded family: Gracillariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 7-9 mm. A leaf-mining species which tends to show narrower and less distinct chevrons on the forewing than many of its close relatives. Some forms have a very greyish appearance with indistinct markings. The leaf mines on oak can be searched for from late autumn through winter, and it is relatively easy to rear the adult. The species can't be identified from the mine alone, as P quercifoliella, P messaniella and other oak species are very similar, but the pupa has a distinctive arrangements of hooks at the very end, known as the 'cremaster'. There is a key and description of these on Bladmineerders.nl here , and photos at https://mothdissection.co.uk/species.php?Tx=Phyllonorycter_harrisella Provide a photograph of the leaf mine, and images of the pupal cremaster On the wing in May and June and again in the autumn. The larvae feed on Oak forming a blotch-like leaf mine. It is fairly common over much of Britain but less so in Ireland. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/P.harrisella.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gracillarioidea/gracillariidae/lithocolletinae/phyllonorycter/phyllonorycter-harrisella/
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Gracillariidae
- Genus
- Phyllonorycter
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around areas with Oak
Seasonal Activity
On the wing in May and June and again in the autumn.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on Oak forming a blotch-like leaf mine.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is fairly common over much of Britain but less so in Ireland. 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 Phyllonorycter harrisella. 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 Phyllonorycter harrisella (7)
Frequently Asked Questions About Phyllonorycter harrisella
What is Phyllonorycter harrisella?
Phyllonorycter harrisella is a species in the family Gracillariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Phyllonorycter harrisella found?
Habitat: Around areas with Oak
When is Phyllonorycter harrisella active?
Phyllonorycter harrisella: seasonal activity - On the wing in May and June and again in the autumn..
What is the life cycle of a Phyllonorycter harrisella?
The larvae feed on Oak forming a blotch-like leaf mine.