Aproaerema cinctella
This record describes Aproaerema cinctella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan about 13 mm. Very similar to Syncopacma larseniella , from which it can only be reliably distinguished by dissection of the genitalia. Areas that are rich in Birds'-foot-trefoil. Flying in late June and July, the adult moths can be attracted to light. The larva feeds on Birds'-foot-trefoil (Lotus spp.) and maybe also Greenweed (Genista). Reliable records have shown that it occurs locally throughout much of England and Ireland, but is probably scarcer than larseniella. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce A. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Gelechiidae
- Genus
- Aproaerema
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Areas that are rich in Birds'-foot-trefoil.
Seasonal Activity
Flying in late June and July, the adult moths can be attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva feeds on Birds'-foot-trefoil (Lotus spp.) and maybe also Greenweed (Genista).
Additional species information
Recorded status
Reliable records have shown that it occurs locally throughout much of England and Ireland, but is probably scarcer than larseniella. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as Nationally Scarce A.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Aproaerema cinctella. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aproaerema cinctella
What is Aproaerema cinctella?
Aproaerema cinctella is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Aproaerema cinctella found?
Habitat: Areas that are rich in Birds'-foot-trefoil.
When is Aproaerema cinctella active?
Aproaerema cinctella: seasonal activity - Flying in late June and July, the adult moths can be attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Aproaerema cinctella?
The larva feeds on Birds'-foot-trefoil (Lotus spp.) and maybe also Greenweed (Genista).