Skin Moth
Monopis laevigella
This record describes Monopis laevigella (species). Recorded family: Tineidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 13 to 20 mm. A rather drab looking brown or blackish moth with mottled patterning on the wings. Various habitats and sometimes found near bird's nests. The adults can be found on the wing from dusk onwards from May through to September, and may have two generations in the south. Larvae from December to March feeding on a range of animal origin foodstuffs, such as dead animals, owl pellets and detritus in birds' nests. Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tineoidea
- Family
- Tineidae (Clothes Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tineinae
- Genus
- Monopis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various habitats and sometimes found near bird's nests.
Seasonal Activity
The adults can be found on the wing from dusk onwards from May through to September, and may have two generations in the south.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larvae from December to March feeding on a range of animal origin foodstuffs, such as dead animals, owl pellets and detritus in birds' nests.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread and fairly frequent in 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 Monopis laevigella. 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 Skin Moth (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Skin Moth
What is Skin Moth?
Skin Moth (Monopis laevigella) is a species in the family Tineidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Skin Moth found?
Habitat: Various habitats and sometimes found near bird's nests.
When is Skin Moth active?
Skin Moth: seasonal activity - The adults can be found on the wing from dusk onwards from May through to September, and may have two generations in the south..
What is the life cycle of a Skin Moth?
Larvae from December to March feeding on a range of animal origin foodstuffs, such as dead animals, owl pellets and detritus in birds' nests.