Acanthopteroctetes unifascia - Hodges#0017
Acanthopteroctetes unifascia
This record describes Acanthopteroctetes unifascia (species). Recorded family: Acanthopteroctetidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wikipedia reference for Acanthopteroctetes unifascia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acanthopteroctetes_unifascia.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Neopseustoidea
- Family
- Acanthopteroctetidae
- Genus
- Acanthopteroctetes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California. Holotype ♂: Circle X Ranch, B.S.A. Camp (1500'), Ventura County, California (24 Apr 66).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae mine leaves of Ceanothus .
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet unifascia is Latin meaning "single banded," referring to the forewing maculation.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acanthopteroctetes unifascia. 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 Acanthopteroctetes unifascia - Hodges#0017 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Chris Grinter; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Acanthopteroctetes unifascia - Hodges#0017
How big is Acanthopteroctetes unifascia - Hodges#0017?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Forewing | Forewing length 3.5-4.5 mm. |
| Wingspan | Wingspan about 7.0-8.5 mm. , |
Where is Acanthopteroctetes unifascia - Hodges#0017 found?
Range: California. Holotype ♂: Circle X Ranch, B.S.A. Camp (1500'), Ventura County, California (24 Apr 66).
What does Acanthopteroctetes unifascia - Hodges#0017 eat?
The diet of the Acanthopteroctetes unifascia - Hodges#0017 includes Larvae mine leaves of Ceanothus ..