Triaxomera parasitella
Encyclopedia
Triaxomera parasitella is a species
of tineoid moth. It belongs to the fungus moth family
(Tineidae), and therein to the subfamily Nemapogoninae. It is widespread and common in much of western Eurasia
, but seems to be absent from some more outlying regions, such as Portugal
and the eastern Baltic
, Ireland
and Iceland
. It has also not been recorded from Slovenia
but given that it is found in neighboring countries, it may well occur there unnoticed. Generally, it is a moth
of warm temperate
regions, e.g. in Great Britain
it is only a rare and scarce species from the English Midlands
northwards.
The adults have a wingspan of 16–21 mm. They are generally nocturnal and can be attracted by light at night. They are on the wing in late spring to early summer, about May to July or starting somewhat earlier, depending on location. Their forewings are predominantly blackish, with irregular white mottling and speckling which results in a rough black zig-zag stripe running along the length of the wings. The forewing border is a hairy fringe colored with alternating black and white. The hindwings are uniformly pale dull grey and have a longer hairy fringe whisch is colored like the wings proper. The head has a tuft of orange-brown hairs. The caterpillar
s feed on bracket fungi, in particular Trametes
and Shiitake
(Lentinula edodes), and also on the dead wood these fungi grow on.
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 subfamily Nemapogoninae. It is widespread and common in much of western Eurasia
Eurasia
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...
, but seems to be absent from some more outlying regions, such as Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and the eastern Baltic
Baltic region
The terms Baltic region, Baltic Rim countries, and Baltic Rim refer to slightly different combinations of countries in the general area surrounding the Baltic Sea.- Etymology :...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and 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...
. It has also not been recorded from 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 given that it is found in neighboring countries, it may well occur there unnoticed. Generally, it is a moth
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...
of warm temperate
Temperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
regions, e.g. in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
it is only a rare and scarce species from 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...
northwards.
The adults have a wingspan of 16–21 mm. They are generally nocturnal and can be attracted by light at night. They are on the wing in late spring to early summer, about May to July or starting somewhat earlier, depending on location. Their forewings are predominantly blackish, with irregular white mottling and speckling which results in a rough black zig-zag stripe running along the length of the wings. The forewing border is a hairy fringe colored with alternating black and white. The hindwings are uniformly pale dull grey and have a longer hairy fringe whisch is colored like the wings proper. The head has a tuft of orange-brown 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 feed on bracket fungi, in particular Trametes
Trametes
Trametes is a genus of fungi that is distinguished by a pileate basidiocarp, di- to trimitic hyphal systems, smooth non-dextrinoid spores, and a hymenium usually without true hymenial cystidia. The genus has a widespread distribution and contains about fifty species...
and Shiitake
Shiitake
The Shiitake is an edible mushroom native to East Asia, which is cultivated and consumed in many Asian countries, as well as being dried and exported to many countries around the world. It is a feature of many Asian cuisines including Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Thai...
(Lentinula edodes), and also on the dead wood these fungi grow on.
Synonyms
Junior synonyms of T. parasitella are:- Tinea carpinetella Stainton, 1849
- Tinea griseolella Costa, 1836
- Tinea parasitella Hübner, 1796
- Triaxomera carpinetella (Stainton, 1849)
- Triaxomera griseolella (Costa, 1836)