Psychoides verhuella
This record describes Psychoides verhuella (species). Recorded family: Tineidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 9 to 12 mm. The adult moth is dark blackish in colour and often has a violet reflection. It lacks the white tornal spot of P. filicivora . The larva mine the leaves of various ferns including Hart's-tongue Fern and Polypody, feeding on the underside and occasonally making a blotch mine in the leaf. An untidy mass of fern sporangia usually indicates the presence of the larva, which has a black head, pronotum and anal plate Psychoides filicivora , with paler head, etc, An image showing both larval species for comparison is available here . Only mature tenanted mines can be recorded. Provide backlit photograph oof the underside of the fern frond; note host species. Provide photo of late instar larva showing head/pronotum colouration. In areas with suitable amounts of the larval foodplants. Larva (early and late instars) has black head, prothoracic shield and anal plate, which distinguish it from the other fern frond species, P. filicivora. It mines mature fern frond with well developed sporangia, usually Hart's-tongue, and makes case (vacant when larva in frond) resembling displaced sorus (spore body). Aug.-June, most prominent April-May. Pupal case has sharp crest when unworn. Local in distribution and mainly found in the southern half of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/P.verhuella.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/tineoidea/tineidae/teichobiinae/psychoides/psychoides-verhuella/
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tineidae
- Genus
- Psychoides
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
In areas with suitable amounts of the larval foodplants.
Seasonal Activity
Adult: May to July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva (early and late instars) has black head, prothoracic shield and anal plate, which distinguish it from the other fern frond species, P. filicivora. It mines mature fern frond with well developed sporangia, usually Hart's-tongue, and makes case (vacant when larva in frond) resembling displaced sorus (spore body). Aug.-June, most prominent April-May. Pupal case has sharp crest when unworn.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Local in distribution and mainly found in the southern half of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Psychoides verhuella. 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 Psychoides verhuella (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About Psychoides verhuella
What is Psychoides verhuella?
Psychoides verhuella is a species in the family Tineidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Psychoides verhuella found?
Habitat: In areas with suitable amounts of the larval foodplants.
When is Psychoides verhuella active?
Psychoides verhuella: seasonal activity - Adult: May to July..
What is the life cycle of a Psychoides verhuella?
Larva (early and late instars) has black head, prothoracic shield and anal plate, which distinguish it from the other fern frond species, P. filicivora. It mines mature fern frond with well developed sporangia, usually Hart's-tongue, and makes case (vacant when larva in frond) resembling displaced sorus (spore body). Aug.-June, most prominent April-May. Pupal case has sharp crest when unworn.