Triaxomera parasitella
This record describes Triaxomera parasitella (species). Recorded family: Tineidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 16 to 21 mm. A rather attractive species with a mottled patterning of browns, white and gold. The head is orange. Flying between May and July, the moths are generally nocturnal and can be attracted to light. The larva feeds on bracket fungi, especially Coriolus and also in dead wood. Distributed widely in the south and south-east of England, there are occasional records from further north, but there it is generally scarce. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as local.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Tineidae
- Genus
- Triaxomera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Various habitats.
Seasonal Activity
Flying between May and July, the moths are generally nocturnal and can be attracted to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva feeds on bracket fungi, especially Coriolus and also in dead wood.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Distributed widely in the south and south-east of England, there are occasional records from further north, but there it is generally scarce. 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 Triaxomera parasitella. 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 Triaxomera parasitella (6)
Frequently Asked Questions About Triaxomera parasitella
What is Triaxomera parasitella?
Triaxomera parasitella is a species in the family Tineidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Triaxomera parasitella found?
Habitat: Various habitats.
When is Triaxomera parasitella active?
Triaxomera parasitella: seasonal activity - Flying between May and July, the moths are generally nocturnal and can be attracted to light..
What is the life cycle of a Triaxomera parasitella?
The larva feeds on bracket fungi, especially Coriolus and also in dead wood.