Birch tubemaker moth - Hodges#5688
Acrobasis betulella
This record describes Acrobasis betulella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Acrobasis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Northeastern United States; southeastern Canada.
Seasonal Activity
The main flight period is June to October.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larval host plants are Betula species including the following. ( 4 ) Betula populifolia Marshal (gray birch). Betula papyrifera Marshal (paper birch).
Life History
Notes in PDF. ( 4 ) Larva; rolled birch leaf; adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Species named for larval host Betula (birch).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acrobasis betulella. 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 Birch tubemaker moth - Hodges#5688 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Birch tubemaker moth - Hodges#5688
Where is Birch tubemaker moth - Hodges#5688 found?
Range: Northeastern United States; southeastern Canada.
What does Birch tubemaker moth - Hodges#5688 eat?
The diet of the Birch tubemaker moth - Hodges#5688 includes The larval host plants are Betula species including the following. ( 4 ) Betula populifolia Marshal (gray birch). Betula papyrifera Marshal (paper birch)..
When is Birch tubemaker moth - Hodges#5688 active?
Birch tubemaker moth - Hodges#5688: seasonal activity - The main flight period is June to October..
What is the life cycle of a Birch tubemaker moth - Hodges#5688?
Notes in PDF. ( 4 ) Larva; rolled birch leaf; adult