Agnoea flavifrontella is a species of gelechioid moths in the family Lypusidae.[1][2]

Agnoea flavifrontella
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lypusidae
Subfamily: Lypusinae
Genus: Agnoea
Species:
A. flavifrontella
Binomial name
Agnoea flavifrontella
Synonyms
  • Pseudatemelia flavifrontella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
  • Borkhausenia flavifrontella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
  • Tubuliferola flavifrontella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
  • Tinea flavifrontella Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775

Taxonomy

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In the systematic layout used here, it is placed within the subfamily Amphisbatinae of the concealer moth family (Oecophoridae). The Amphisbatinae have alternatively been merged into the Oecophorinae, raised to full family rank, or placed as a subgroup of the Depressariinae (or Depressariidae if ranked as family). A. flavifrontella was first scientifically described by M. Denis & I. Schiffermüller in 1775. For quite some time however, its description was erroneously attributed to J. Hübner in 1801.[3]

This species was formerly a member of the genus Pseudatemelia, but recent research has resulted in the transfer of all Pseudatemelia species to the genus Agnoea.[4][5][6]

Distribution and habitat

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This species can be found in Europe, where it inhabits woodlands, and in the Near East. At the periphery of its range, it is not common; in the UK for example it is only patchily distributed, ranging northwestwards only to the English Midlands and Wales.[2]

Description

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Agnoea cf. flavifrontella

The wingspan of this moth is about 20 mm; its forewing coloration is a quite drab light taupe, mottled with slightly darker tiny specks. The head is covered in orange-yellow hairs.[7] Antennae reach about ¾ length of the long forewings, that are held in shallow roof-shaped position.[8] Dorsal surface of the abdomen has very narrow scales.[9]

Biology

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The adults fly from May to July depending on the location; they appear to be predominantly or exclusively nocturnal and can be attracted by light. Caterpillars stay in a portable case.[9] Little is known about the food of its caterpillars. Like their relatives, they appear to be adaptable and have been recorded on such diverse foodstuffs as dead plants, dry leaves, dried insect specimens and even feathers.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Agnoea subochreella (Doubleday, 1935)". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  2. ^ a b "Agnoea subochreella". GBIF. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  3. ^ Grabe (1942), Pitkin & Jenkins (2004), FE (2009), Kimber [2010], and see references in Savela (2001)
  4. ^ Sinev, S. Yu.; Lvovsky, A. L. (2014). "Taxonomical status and species composition of the little known genus Agnoea Walsingham, 1907 (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Lypusidae)". Zoosystematica Rossica. 23 (1). doi:10.31610/zsr/2014.23.1.137.
  5. ^ National Biodiversity Network (NBN) atlas
  6. ^ Lepiforum (in German)
  7. ^ Kimber [2010]
  8. ^ Identification of micro-moth families
  9. ^ a b British Lepidoptera
  10. ^ Grabe (1942), Kimber [2010]
  • Grabe, Albert (1942): Eigenartige Geschmacksrichtungen bei Kleinschmetterlingsraupen ["Strange tastes among micromoth caterpillars"]. Zeitschrift des Wiener Entomologen-Vereins 27: 105-109 [in German]. PDF fulltext
  • Kimber, Ian [2010]: UKMoths – Pseudatemelia flavifrontella. Retrieved 2010-APR-27.
  • Savela, Markku (2001): Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms – Agnoea.