White-shouldered House-moth
Endrosis sarcitrella
This record describes Endrosis sarcitrella (species). Recorded family: Oecophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 15-21 mm. Distinctive because of its white 'shoulders'. Being continuously-brooded, it can be found at any time of year indoors. The larvae live on dried plant and animal debris. The species has been accidentally introduced into many parts of the world with dried stored goods. Very common throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Endrosis sarcitrella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endrosis sarcitrella.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Oecophoridae (Concealer Moths)
- Subfamily
- Oecophorinae
- Tribe
- Oecophorini
- Genus
- Endrosis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Occurs regularly inside buildings.
Seasonal Activity
Being continuously-brooded, it can be found at any time of year indoors.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae live on dried plant and animal debris. The species has been accidentally introduced into many parts of the world with dried stored goods.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Very common throughout 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 Endrosis sarcitrella. 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 White-shouldered House-moth (8)
Frequently Asked Questions About White-shouldered House-moth
What is White-shouldered House-moth?
White-shouldered House-moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) is a species in the family Oecophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is White-shouldered House-moth found?
Habitat: Occurs regularly inside buildings.
When is White-shouldered House-moth active?
White-shouldered House-moth: seasonal activity - Being continuously-brooded, it can be found at any time of year indoors..
What is the life cycle of a White-shouldered House-moth?
The larvae live on dried plant and animal debris. The species has been accidentally introduced into many parts of the world with dried stored goods.