Clemens' False Skeletonizer - Hodges#4629
Acoloithus falsarius
This record describes Acoloithus falsarius (species). Recorded family: Zygaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult small and all black except for incomplete orange collar, broken dorsally by black; abdomen relatively short and broad, lacking tufts of hair Larva has whitish or yellowish head capsule (larva of Grapeleaf Skeletonizer has dark head capsule). Types: Holotype as Acoloithus falsarius by Clemens, 1860. Type Locality: Pennsylvania & Illinois. In the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Holotype as Harrisina sanborni by Packard, 1864. #27316. Locality: Virginia, USA. In Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard, Cambridge, Mass. This may not be the holotype, which was loaned ... by Mr. Sanborn.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Zygaenoidea
- Family
- Zygaenidae (Leaf Skeletonizer Moths)
- Subfamily
- Procridinae
- Genus
- Acoloithus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Deciduous forests and wineries.
Geographic Range
Heppner reported the range to include New York to Florida, Illinois to Texas . Ontario. Moth Photographers Group displays records to Vermont.
Seasonal Activity
May to September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner reported the larvae feed on: Ampelopsis spp. (peppervine) and Virginia Creeper. Vitis spp. (grape).
Life History
Mature larva are darker with a brown band on A1 and another one on A7. Overwinter as pupa on the ground. Males are active on warm afternoons.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acoloithus falsarius. 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 Clemens' False Skeletonizer - Hodges#4629 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by cotinis , Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , lee_penner
Frequently Asked Questions About Clemens' False Skeletonizer - Hodges#4629
What is Clemens' False Skeletonizer - Hodges#4629?
Clemens' False Skeletonizer - Hodges#4629 (Acoloithus falsarius) is a species in the family Zygaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Clemens' False Skeletonizer - Hodges#4629?
Wingspan about 15 mm. 9 to 10 mm long. Larva 8 to 9 mm long.
How do you identify Clemens' False Skeletonizer - Hodges#4629?
Adult small and all black except for incomplete orange collar, broken dorsally by black; abdomen relatively short and broad, lacking tufts of hair Larva has whitish or yellowish head capsule (larva of Grapeleaf Skeletonizer has dark head capsule).
Where is Clemens' False Skeletonizer - Hodges#4629 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Deciduous forests and wineries. |
| Range | Heppner reported the range to include New York to Florida, Illinois to Texas . Ontario. Moth Photographers Group displays records to Vermont. |
What does Clemens' False Skeletonizer - Hodges#4629 eat?
The diet of the Clemens' False Skeletonizer - Hodges#4629 includes Heppner reported the larvae feed on: Ampelopsis spp. (peppervine) and Virginia Creeper. Vitis spp. (grape)..
When is Clemens' False Skeletonizer - Hodges#4629 active?
Clemens' False Skeletonizer - Hodges#4629: seasonal activity - May to September..
What is the life cycle of a Clemens' False Skeletonizer - Hodges#4629?
Mature larva are darker with a brown band on A1 and another one on A7. Overwinter as pupa on the ground. Males are active on warm afternoons.