Acalyptris lotella - Hodges#0114.1
Acalyptris lotella
This record describes Acalyptris lotella (species). Recorded family: Nepticulidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Nepticuloidea
- Family
- Nepticulidae
- Genus
- Acalyptris
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Found in California. Holotype - Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge, Contra Costa County, California (Larva collected 15 March 1985, emerged 14 April 1985).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed in serpentine mines in the new stems of common deerweed ( Lotus scoparius ).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific name lotella from the genus of the host plant ( Lotus ).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acalyptris lotella. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Acalyptris lotella - Hodges#0114.1 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Steve Nanz; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Acalyptris lotella - Hodges#0114.1
How big is Acalyptris lotella - Hodges#0114.1?
Forewing length 2-3.5 mm.
Where is Acalyptris lotella - Hodges#0114.1 found?
Range: Found in California. Holotype - Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge, Contra Costa County, California (Larva collected 15 March 1985, emerged 14 April 1985).
What does Acalyptris lotella - Hodges#0114.1 eat?
The diet of the Acalyptris lotella - Hodges#0114.1 includes Larvae feed in serpentine mines in the new stems of common deerweed ( Lotus scoparius )..