Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae
This record describes Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae (species). Recorded family: Gracillariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 6 to 8 mm. Some more northern examples have rather more blackish suffusion in the wing. Best identified from the similar P. sorbi and P. mespilella by recording as a leafmine and noting the larval foodplant - usually Hawthorn (and occasionally Pear or Quince).. Various habitats particularly those where Hawthorn is plentiful. In common with other species, there are two generations, producing adults in May and in August. The larval mine is a blotch on the underside of a leaf, often causing the edges of a lobe to curl under. Widespread and fairly frequent in most areas of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/P.oxyacanthae.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gracillarioidea/gracillariidae/lithocolletinae/phyllonorycter/phyllonorycter-oxyacanthae/
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
Various habitats particularly those where Hawthorn is plentiful.
Seasonal Activity
In common with other species, there are two generations, producing adults in May and in August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larval mine is a blotch on the underside of a leaf, often causing the edges of a lobe to curl under.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread and fairly frequent in most areas of 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 oxyacanthae. 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 oxyacanthae (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae
What is Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae?
Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae is a species in the family Gracillariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae found?
Habitat: Various habitats particularly those where Hawthorn is plentiful.
When is Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae active?
Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae: seasonal activity - In common with other species, there are two generations, producing adults in May and in August..
What is the life cycle of a Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae?
The larval mine is a blotch on the underside of a leaf, often causing the edges of a lobe to curl under.