Sweetfern Leaf Casebearer - Hodges#5691
Acrobasis comptoniella
This record describes Acrobasis comptoniella (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
Wisconsin, Michigan, Ontario to Maine and south to New Jersey
Seasonal Activity
Univoltine on Block Island , RI, with a flight from late June to late August peaking in late July and early August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Comptonia asplenifolia (sweetfern - formerly in the genus Myrica ), Myrica gale L. (bog-myrtle), M. pensylvanica (northern bayberry) ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acrobasis comptoniella. 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 Sweetfern Leaf Casebearer - Hodges#5691 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , Randy Hardy , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Sweetfern Leaf Casebearer - Hodges#5691
How big is Sweetfern Leaf Casebearer - Hodges#5691?
22mm (based on Vargo specimen at MPG) Larvae mature at 16.3-24.3 mm
Where is Sweetfern Leaf Casebearer - Hodges#5691 found?
Range: Wisconsin, Michigan, Ontario to Maine and south to New Jersey
What does Sweetfern Leaf Casebearer - Hodges#5691 eat?
The diet of the Sweetfern Leaf Casebearer - Hodges#5691 includes Comptonia asplenifolia (sweetfern - formerly in the genus Myrica ), Myrica gale L. (bog-myrtle), M. pensylvanica (northern bayberry) ( 3 ).
When is Sweetfern Leaf Casebearer - Hodges#5691 active?
Sweetfern Leaf Casebearer - Hodges#5691: seasonal activity - Univoltine on Block Island , RI, with a flight from late June to late August peaking in late July and early August..