Tischeria dodonaea
This record describes Tischeria dodonaea (species). Recorded family: Tischeriidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan about 7mm. Adult moth is fairly plain varying from yellowish-brown to a more chestnut brown. The larvae mine the leaves of Oak and Sweet Chestnut. The mine has a dark blotch with a series of dark concentric rings or semicircles. Adult may be similar in appearance to Tischeria ekebladella ; the mines are also similar but T dodonaea shows a feeding pttern of concentric arcs. Adult moth requires confirmation by gen det. Leaf mine - please provide good quality photographs including a backlit image. Please also state the host species. Adult May to September. Larval mines mainly from September to November. Larva mines the leaves of Oak and Sweet Chestnut. The species is infrequent and local, found mainly in the southern half of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/T.dodonaea.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/monotrysia/tischerioidea/tischeriidae/tischeria/tischeria-dodonaea/
Wikipedia reference for Tischeria dodonaea: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tischeria_dodonea.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tischeriidae
- Genus
- Tischeria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Associated with Oak and Sweet Chestnut.
Seasonal Activity
Adult May to September. Larval mines mainly from September to November.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Larva mines the leaves of Oak and Sweet Chestnut.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The species is infrequent and local, found mainly in the southern half of Britain. 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 Tischeria dodonaea. 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 Tischeria dodonaea (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Tischeria dodonaea
What is Tischeria dodonaea?
Tischeria dodonaea is a species in the family Tischeriidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Tischeria dodonaea found?
Habitat: Associated with Oak and Sweet Chestnut.
When is Tischeria dodonaea active?
Tischeria dodonaea: seasonal activity - Adult May to September. Larval mines mainly from September to November..
What is the life cycle of a Tischeria dodonaea?
Larva mines the leaves of Oak and Sweet Chestnut.