Stenolechia gemmella
This record describes Stenolechia gemmella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 10 to 11 mm. A fairly distinctive Gelechiid moth. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required. If the photo doesn't show the key ID features then in the comments box describe the size and identifying characters you have observed. Associated with Oak and known for its habit of resting in crevices in bark. The larva feeds on oak (Quercus), feeding in the young shoots. Distributed widely, but locally in England and Wales. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Gelechiidae
- Genus
- Stenolechia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Associated with Oak and known for its habit of resting in crevices in bark.
Seasonal Activity
It flies between July and September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva feeds on oak (Quercus), feeding in the young shoots.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Distributed widely, but locally in England and Wales. 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 Stenolechia gemmella. 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 Stenolechia gemmella (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Stenolechia gemmella
What is Stenolechia gemmella?
Stenolechia gemmella is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Stenolechia gemmella found?
Habitat: Associated with Oak and known for its habit of resting in crevices in bark.
When is Stenolechia gemmella active?
Stenolechia gemmella: seasonal activity - It flies between July and September..
What is the life cycle of a Stenolechia gemmella?
The larva feeds on oak (Quercus), feeding in the young shoots.