Phyllonorycter nicellii
This record describes Phyllonorycter nicellii (species). Recorded family: Gracillariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 7- 8 mm. This can be a difficult group to distinguish. The larva feeds on Hazel, causing a lower surface tentifrom mine; the upper surface is usually netted brown, with a green patch on top. The larva is pale yellow/greyish (due to a speckling of minute black warts) with dark markings on head leafmine can be similar to Parornix devoniella Photograph the mine and note host species; if in doubt check larva. Moth has two generations and may be found flying in May and August. Larva forms a long mine between the veins of a Hazel (Corylus) leaf and is strongly arched. The leaf mines may be found in July and then September to October. Larva overwinters as a pupa in a cocoon. This moth is common and found throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/P.nicellii.htm
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
Found in various habitats.
Seasonal Activity
Moth has two generations and may be found flying in May and August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva forms a long mine between the veins of a Hazel (Corylus) leaf and is strongly arched. The leaf mines may be found in July and then September to October. Larva overwinters as a pupa in a cocoon.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This moth is common and found 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 nicellii. 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 nicellii (9)
Frequently Asked Questions About Phyllonorycter nicellii
What is Phyllonorycter nicellii?
Phyllonorycter nicellii is a species in the family Gracillariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Phyllonorycter nicellii found?
Habitat: Found in various habitats.
When is Phyllonorycter nicellii active?
Phyllonorycter nicellii: seasonal activity - Moth has two generations and may be found flying in May and August..
What is the life cycle of a Phyllonorycter nicellii?
Larva forms a long mine between the veins of a Hazel (Corylus) leaf and is strongly arched. The leaf mines may be found in July and then September to October. Larva overwinters as a pupa in a cocoon.