Tinea columbariella
This record describes Tinea columbariella (species). Recorded family: Tineidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Any site suitable for providing a larval food source – may be near to habitation. Mainly recorded in June and July but possibly continually brooded. Larva feeds on feathers in bird nests and detritus, living within a silken case. Uncommon or rarely recorded in Britain – mostly recorded from southern England, with records north to Lancashire. Nationally scarce A. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tineidae
- Genus
- Tinea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Any site suitable for providing a larval food source – may be near to habitation.
Seasonal Activity
Mainly recorded in June and July but possibly continually brooded.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva feeds on feathers in bird nests and detritus, living within a silken case.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Uncommon or rarely recorded in Britain – mostly recorded from southern England, with records north to Lancashire. Nationally scarce A.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tinea columbariella. 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 Tinea columbariella
What is Tinea columbariella?
Tinea columbariella is a species in the family Tineidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Tinea columbariella found?
Habitat: Any site suitable for providing a larval food source – may be near to habitation.
When is Tinea columbariella active?
Tinea columbariella: seasonal activity - Mainly recorded in June and July but possibly continually brooded..
What is the life cycle of a Tinea columbariella?
Larva feeds on feathers in bird nests and detritus, living within a silken case.