Tischeria ekebladella
This record describes Tischeria ekebladella (species). Recorded family: Tischeriidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 8 to11 mm. The adult moth is golden brown and has darker tips to the forewings. The larva mines the leaves of Oak and occasionally Sweet Chestnut. The mines are distinctive creamy white blotches on upper leaf-surface, wih a darker centre as it matures. In mature mines, the larva can be seen inside a circular cocoon, curled into a horseshoe shape. The adult moth is difficult to distinguish from Small Carl, Tischeria dodonaea . The mines are also similar but T ekebladella does not have a feeding pattern of concentric arcs. The larva generally feeds on the leaves of oak or sweet chestnut forming distinctive white mines on the upperside. The larvae overwinter inside a circular chamber in the mine, and then pupate inside this chamber in late spring. The larval stages occur from September and October. Fairly common in suitable habitat throughout much of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common. http://www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidoptera/T.ekebladella.htm https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/monotrysia/tischerioidea/tischeriidae/tischeria/tischeria-ekebladella/
Wikipedia reference for Tischeria ekebladella: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tischeria_ekebladella.
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
Found in deciduous woodland.
Seasonal Activity
It flies in May and June.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva generally feeds on the leaves of oak or sweet chestnut forming distinctive white mines on the upperside. The larvae overwinter inside a circular chamber in the mine, and then pupate inside this chamber in late spring. The larval stages occur from September and October.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly common in suitable habitat throughout much of Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tischeria ekebladella. 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 ekebladella (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Tischeria ekebladella
What is Tischeria ekebladella?
Tischeria ekebladella is a species in the family Tischeriidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Tischeria ekebladella found?
Habitat: Found in deciduous woodland.
When is Tischeria ekebladella active?
Tischeria ekebladella: seasonal activity - It flies in May and June..
What is the life cycle of a Tischeria ekebladella?
The larva generally feeds on the leaves of oak or sweet chestnut forming distinctive white mines on the upperside. The larvae overwinter inside a circular chamber in the mine, and then pupate inside this chamber in late spring. The larval stages occur from September and October.