Tachystola acroxantha
This record describes Tachystola acroxantha (species). Recorded family: Oecophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 13 to 15 mm. The pinkish orange termen make this a fairly easy species to identify. The colourful adults can occur between May and September, when they are attracted to light. The larvae feed on withered leaves and leaf-litter. An adventive species, which was first noted in Devon in 1908, and was probably imported with Australian plants. In recent years it has expanded its range rapidly northwards to Lancashire, and is quite common in some areas. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Wikipedia reference for Tachystola acroxantha: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachystola acroxantha.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Oecophoridae (Concealer Moths)
- Subfamily
- Oecophorinae
- Tribe
- Oecophorini
- Genus
- Tachystola
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various habitats.
Seasonal Activity
The colourful adults can occur between May and September, when they are attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed on withered leaves and leaf-litter.
Additional species information
Recorded status
An adventive species, which was first noted in Devon in 1908, and was probably imported with Australian plants. In recent years it has expanded its range rapidly northwards to Lancashire, and is quite common in some areas. 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 Tachystola acroxantha. 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 Tachystola acroxantha (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Tachystola acroxantha
What is Tachystola acroxantha?
Tachystola acroxantha is a species in the family Oecophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Tachystola acroxantha found?
Habitat: Various habitats.
When is Tachystola acroxantha active?
Tachystola acroxantha: seasonal activity - The colourful adults can occur between May and September, when they are attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Tachystola acroxantha?
The larvae feed on withered leaves and leaf-litter.