Phyllonorycter maestingella
This record describes Phyllonorycter maestingella (species). Recorded family: Gracillariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 7 to 9 mm. A clear indication that some of the smaller moths are the most beautiful; this tiny moth has an intricate pattern of orange-brown, white and black. The larva mines the leaves of Beech. It has two broods, flying late April to June, and again in August. The larva creates a long blotch mine on the underside of leaves of Beech, usually between two veins from midrib almost to leaf edge. It is fairly common throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/P.maestingella.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gracillarioidea/gracillariidae/lithocolletinae/phyllonorycter/phyllonorycter-maestingella/
Wikipedia reference for Phyllonorycter maestingella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllonorycter_maestingella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gracillarioidea
- Family
- Gracillariidae (Leaf Blotch Miner Moths)
- Subfamily
- Lithocolletinae
- Genus
- Phyllonorycter
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Around Beech.
Seasonal Activity
It has two broods, flying late April to June, and again in August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva creates a long blotch mine on the underside of leaves of Beech, usually between two veins from midrib almost to leaf edge.
Additional species information
Recorded status
It is fairly common throughout 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 Phyllonorycter maestingella. 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 maestingella (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Phyllonorycter maestingella
What is Phyllonorycter maestingella?
Phyllonorycter maestingella is a species in the family Gracillariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Phyllonorycter maestingella found?
Habitat: Around Beech.
When is Phyllonorycter maestingella active?
Phyllonorycter maestingella: seasonal activity - It has two broods, flying late April to June, and again in August..
What is the life cycle of a Phyllonorycter maestingella?
The larva creates a long blotch mine on the underside of leaves of Beech, usually between two veins from midrib almost to leaf edge.