Tinea trinotella
Encyclopedia
Tinea trinotella is a species
of tineoid moth. It belongs to the fungus moth family
(Tineidae), and therein to the nominate subfamily Tineinae. It was once used as type species
of a distinct genus
Acedes, but this is synonymized today with Tinea
, the type genus
of Tineinae, Tineidae and the superfamily Tineoidea.
; no records exist form Slovenia
but as it is found in the surrounding countries, it may well have simply not been noticed yet. Its absence from Iceland
seems to be genuine however. The nocturnal adults are on the wing about May to August, depending on the location, and are easily attracted to light sources. Two generation
s may occur each year at least in part of its range.
This small moth has a wingspan of 12–18 mm when adult. Their forewings are a plain greyish-buff with a golden hue, and bear the one large, one medium and one small clear-cut black dots referenced in the specific name trinotella. On the head, they have a tuft of yellow or orange hairs. The caterpillar
s live in small portable cases they build from debris
held together with their own silk
, just like those of the Case-bearing Clothes Moth (T. pellionella) and other relatives. They typically inhabit bird nest
s – e.g. of Chicken
(Gallus gallus domesticus), Domestic Pigeon
(Columba livia domestica), Linnet
(Carduelis cannabina) or Chaffinch
(Fringilla coelebs) – where they feed on food remains and similar organic detritus
. They have also been found on discarded wool
en fabric
s.
in or around 1825, the present species was placed there under the name A. lappella, often mis-spelled lapella. This was because many authors at that time, including Hübner, believed that the taxon
Tinea lappella referred to the present species. Indeed, it was Hübner himself, who in 1796 first made this misidentification in his major work Sammlung Europäischer Schmetterlinge. But actually, T. lappella – described by Linnaeus in 1758 as Phalaena (Tinea) lappella – is a twirler moth (family Gelechiidae), namely the Burdock Seedhead Moth, called Metzneria lappella today. Similarly, the name T. tripunctella was erroneously applied to T. trinotella for some time, but as originally established by J.N.C.M. Denis
& I. Schiffermüller
in 1775 it refers to another twirler moth which is nowadays known as Acompsia tripunctella.
Obsolete scientific names (junior synonyms and others) of Tinea trinotella 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 tineoid moth. It belongs to the fungus 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...
(Tineidae), and therein to the nominate subfamily Tineinae. It was once used as 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 a distinct 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...
Acedes, but this is synonymized today with Tinea
Tinea (moth)
Tinea is a genus of the fungus moth family, Tineidae. Therein, it belongs to the subfamily Tineinae. As evident by its name, it is the type genus of its subfamily and family...
, the type genus
Type genus
In biological classification, a type genus is a representative genus, as with regard to a biological family. The term and concept is used much more often and much more formally in zoology than it is in botany, and the definition is dependent on the nomenclatural Code that applies:* In zoological...
of Tineinae, Tineidae and the superfamily Tineoidea.
Ecology and description
It is widespread and common in much of western EurasiaEurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
; no records exist form Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
but as it is found in the surrounding countries, it may well have simply not been noticed yet. Its absence from Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
seems to be genuine however. The nocturnal adults are on the wing about May to August, depending on the location, and are easily attracted to light sources. Two generation
Generation
Generation , also known as procreation in biological sciences, is the act of producing offspring....
s may occur each year at least in part of its range.
This small moth has a wingspan of 12–18 mm when adult. Their forewings are a plain greyish-buff with a golden hue, and bear the one large, one medium and one small clear-cut black dots referenced in the specific name trinotella. On the head, they have a tuft of yellow or orange hairs. 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 live in small portable cases they build from debris
Debris
Debris is rubble, wreckage, ruins, litter and discarded garbage/refuse/trash, scattered remains of something destroyed, or, in geology, large rock fragments left by a melting glacier etc. The singular form of debris is debris...
held together with their own silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
, just like those of the Case-bearing Clothes Moth (T. pellionella) and other relatives. They typically inhabit bird nest
Bird nest
A bird nest is the spot in which a bird lays and incubates its eggs and raises its young. Although the term popularly refers to a specific structure made by the bird itself—such as the grassy cup nest of the American Robin or Eurasian Blackbird, or the elaborately woven hanging nest of the...
s – e.g. of Chicken
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
(Gallus gallus domesticus), Domestic Pigeon
Domestic Pigeon
The Domestic Pigeon was derived from the Rock Pigeon. The Rock Pigeon is the world's oldest domesticated bird. Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets mention the domestication of pigeons more than 5,000 years ago, as do Egyptian hieroglyphics.Research suggests that domestication of pigeons was as early as...
(Columba livia domestica), Linnet
Linnet
The Linnet is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.The Linnet derives its scientific name from its fondness for hemp and its English name from its liking for seeds of flax, from which linen is made.- Description :...
(Carduelis cannabina) or Chaffinch
Chaffinch
The Chaffinch , also called by a wide variety of other names, is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.- Description :...
(Fringilla coelebs) – where they feed on food remains and similar organic detritus
Detritus
Detritus is a biological term used to describe dead or waste organic material.Detritus may also refer to:* Detritus , a geological term used to describe the particles of rock produced by weathering...
. They have also been found on discarded wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
en fabric
Fabric
A fabric is a textile material, short for "textile fabric".Fabric may also refer to:*Fabric , the spatial and geometric configuration of elements within a rock*Fabric , a nightclub in London, England...
s.
Synonyms
When Acedes was established by J. HübnerJacob Hübner
Jacob Hübner was a German entomologist. He was the author of Sammlung Europäischer Schmetterlinge , a founding work of entomology.-Scientific career:...
in or around 1825, the present species was placed there under the name A. lappella, often mis-spelled lapella. This was because many authors at that time, including Hübner, believed that the taxon
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
Tinea lappella referred to the present species. Indeed, it was Hübner himself, who in 1796 first made this misidentification in his major work Sammlung Europäischer Schmetterlinge. But actually, T. lappella – described by Linnaeus in 1758 as Phalaena (Tinea) lappella – is a twirler moth (family Gelechiidae), namely the Burdock Seedhead Moth, called Metzneria lappella today. Similarly, the name T. tripunctella was erroneously applied to T. trinotella for some time, but as originally established by J.N.C.M. Denis
Michael Denis
Johann Nepomuk Cosmas Michael Denis, also: SinedSined is an anagram of Denis. the Bard, was an Austrian poet, bibliographer, and lepidopterist....
& I. Schiffermüller
Ignaz Schiffermüller
Ignaz Schiffermüller was an Austrian naturalist mainly interested in Lepidoptera....
in 1775 it refers to another twirler moth which is nowadays known as Acompsia tripunctella.
Obsolete scientific names (junior synonyms and others) of Tinea trinotella are:
- Acedes lapella (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....
) - Acedes lappella (auct. non Linnaeus, 1758: misidentification)
- Phalaena (Tinea) lapella (lapsus)
- Phalaena (Tinea) lappella (auct. non Linnaeus, 1758: misidentification)
- Tinea ganomella Treitschke, 1833
- Tinea lapella (lapsus)
- Tinea lappella (auct. non Linnaeus, 1758: misidentification)
- Tinea tripunctella (auct. non Denis & Schiffermüller 1775: misidentification)