Oecophora bractella
Encyclopedia
Oecophora bractella is a species
of gelechioid moth
s. It belongs to the subfamily Oecophorinae
of the concealer moth family
(Oecophoridae). As the type species
of its genus
Oecophora
, its affiliations and phylogeny (which are not completely known however) determine the delimitation of that family and subfamily.
It is native to in Europe
, where it inhabits woodland
. The species is not often found in the outlying regions; in the UK for example it has only been recorded from a few patches of old-growth forest in the English Midlands
(e.g. Wyre Forest
), southern England
, and southern Wales
(e.g. in the Wye valley
).
The adults' wingspan
is 12–16 mm. Conspicuously bicolored black and yellow, they also have some iridescent blue markings on the forewings. The adult moths fly from May to July depending on the location; they are semi-diurnal and can be encountered during the day, but usually are active at dawn
. The caterpillar
s feed on dead and decaying wood, and possibly also on fungi.
had been established, its type species
was set to be the Tinea sulphurella described by J.C. Fabricius
in 1777. But that name was a junior homonym and thus invalid; Fabricius had actually described the "proper" T. sulphurella (nowadays known as Esperia sulphurella
) himself, a mere two years earlier. Subsequent authors placed Linnaeus' species in the related genus Alabonia
, while Fabricius' homonymy lingered on into the 20th century. Eventually this was all sorted out, when it was realized that the supposedly different species of Linnaeus and Fabricius were one and the same, and O. bractella has since been known under its current name.
Invalid scientific names (junior synonyms and others) of Oecophora bractella are:
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of gelechioid moth
Gelechioidea
| name = Curved-horn moths| image = Xylorycta assimilis.jpg| image_width = 240px| image_caption = Adult Xylorycta assimilis of the Xyloryctidae, photographed in Aranda Note prominent "horns" and long antennae| regnum = Animalia| phylum = Arthropoda...
s. It belongs to the subfamily Oecophorinae
Oecophorinae
| image = Philobota1.jpg| image_width = 250px| image_caption = Adult of Philobota arabella or a related species,Aranda | regnum = Animalia| phylum = Arthropoda| classis = Insecta| ordo = Lepidoptera| subordo = Glossata| infraordo = Heteroneura...
of the concealer moth family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
(Oecophoridae). As the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of its genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Oecophora
Oecophora
Oecophora is a genus of the concealer moth family . Among these, it belongs to subfamily Oecophorinae. It is the type genus of its subfamily and family...
, its affiliations and phylogeny (which are not completely known however) determine the delimitation of that family and subfamily.
It is native to in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, where it inhabits woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
. The species is not often found in the outlying regions; in the UK for example it has only been recorded from a few patches of old-growth forest in the English Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
(e.g. Wyre Forest
Wyre Forest
Wyre Forest is a large, semi-natural woodland and forest which straddles the borders of Worcestershire and Shropshire, England.The Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire takes its name from the forest, despite the fact that much of the woodland does not lie within the district's boundaries, but...
), southern England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and southern Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
(e.g. in the Wye valley
Wye Valley
The Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an internationally important protected landscape straddling the border between England and Wales. It is one of the most dramatic and scenic landscape areas in southern Britain....
).
The adults' wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 12–16 mm. Conspicuously bicolored black and yellow, they also have some iridescent blue markings on the forewings. The adult moths fly from May to July depending on the location; they are semi-diurnal and can be encountered during the day, but usually are active at dawn
Dawn
Dawn is the time that marks the beginning of the twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the presence of weak sunlight, while the sun itself is still below the horizon...
. The caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s feed on dead and decaying wood, and possibly also on fungi.
Synonyms
This species has suffered from considerable confusion regarding its scientific name. It was first described by C. Linnaeus in 1758, who named it Tinea bractella. After the genus OecophoraOecophora
Oecophora is a genus of the concealer moth family . Among these, it belongs to subfamily Oecophorinae. It is the type genus of its subfamily and family...
had been established, its type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
was set to be the Tinea sulphurella described by J.C. Fabricius
Johan Christian Fabricius
Johan Christian Fabricius was a Danish zoologist, specialising in "Insecta", which at that time included all arthropods: insects, arachnids, crustaceans and others...
in 1777. But that name was a junior homonym and thus invalid; Fabricius had actually described the "proper" T. sulphurella (nowadays known as Esperia sulphurella
Esperia sulphurella
Esperia sulphurella is a species of moth of the family Oecophoridae. It is found in Europe.The wingspan is 12–16 mm. The moth flies from May to June depending on the location.The larvae feed on dead wood.-Taxonomy:...
) himself, a mere two years earlier. Subsequent authors placed Linnaeus' species in the related genus Alabonia
Alabonia
Alabonia is a genus of gelechioid moths. Here, it is placed within the subfamily Oecophorinae of the concealer moth family . Alternatively it has been placed in the Elachistidae or Depressariinae together with its presumed closest relatives...
, while Fabricius' homonymy lingered on into the 20th century. Eventually this was all sorted out, when it was realized that the supposedly different species of Linnaeus and Fabricius were one and the same, and O. bractella has since been known under its current name.
Invalid scientific names (junior synonyms and others) of Oecophora bractella are:
- Alabonia bracteella (lapsusLapsusA lapsus is an involuntary mistake made while writing or speaking. According to Freud's early psychoanalytic theory, a lapsus represents a missed deed that hides an unconscious desire....
) - Alabonia bractella (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Tinea bractella Linnaeus, 1758
- Tinea sulphurella FabriciusJohan Christian FabriciusJohan Christian Fabricius was a Danish zoologist, specialising in "Insecta", which at that time included all arthropods: insects, arachnids, crustaceans and others...
, 1777 (non Fabricius, 1775: preoccupied)