Micropterix berytella
Encyclopedia
Micropterix berytella is a species of moth
belonging to the family Micropterigidae
. It is known from Israel
. It was described by Joannis in 1886.
Adults are important pollinators of Cyclamen persicum
. The anther structure with channeled stamens of this plant, is suitable for buzz-pollination by bee
s. However, this is seldom observed. It might be that the plant coevolved originally with a large bee which performed buzz-pollination and is now extinct. The vacant flower’s niche is now occupied by Micropterix berytella. The plant supplies food, shelter, and a site for mating and laying eggs in a way that suits the size, senses, mouth structure organs and life cycle of the species.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
belonging to the family Micropterigidae
Micropterigidae
Micropterigoidea is the superfamily of "mandibulate archaic moths", all placed in the single family Micropterigidae, containing currently about 20 living genera. They are considered the most primitive extant lineage of Lepidoptera ....
. It is known from Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. It was described by Joannis in 1886.
Adults are important pollinators of Cyclamen persicum
Cyclamen persicum
Cyclamen persicum, the Persian cyclamen, is a perennial growing from a tuber, native to rocky hillsides, shrubland, and woodland up to above sea level from south-central Turkey to Israel and Jordan. It also grows in Algeria and Tunisia and on the Greek islands of Rhodes, Karpathos, and Crete,...
. The anther structure with channeled stamens of this plant, is suitable for buzz-pollination by bee
Bee
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea, presently classified by the unranked taxon name Anthophila...
s. However, this is seldom observed. It might be that the plant coevolved originally with a large bee which performed buzz-pollination and is now extinct. The vacant flower’s niche is now occupied by Micropterix berytella. The plant supplies food, shelter, and a site for mating and laying eggs in a way that suits the size, senses, mouth structure organs and life cycle of the species.