Cresson's Grass-tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0347
Acrolophus cressoni
This record describes Acrolophus cressoni (species). Recorded family: Tineidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description as Eulepiste cressoni Walsingham, 1882 and the Hasbrouck 1964 revised description as Acrolophus cressoni (Walsingham) are available online in the print references below or PDF. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). The only small Acrolophus with small palps and raised scales all over the forewings, giving the moth a bumpy appearance: The only Acrolophus this could be mistaken for in the East is simulatus, but that species has long palps. However, the genus Amydria appears to be frequently confused with A. cressoni. Amydria has no raised scales on the forewings, which allows it to be separated from cressoni with relative ease:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tineoidea
- Family
- Tineidae (Clothes Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acrolophinae
- Genus
- Acrolophus (Tubeworm Moths)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Arizona to Kentucky, North Carolina and Florida. ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 8 ) , ( 9 ) , ( 10 ) , ( 11 ) , ( 12 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults have been recorded mostly from May through October. ( 4 ) , ( 12 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is grass species. (Gramineae). ( 12 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet in honor of entomologist Ezra Townsend Cresson (1838-1926), who specialized in Hymenoptera.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acrolophus cressoni. 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 Cresson's Grass-tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0347 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , dennepj10
Frequently Asked Questions About Cresson's Grass-tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0347
What is Cresson's Grass-tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0347?
Cresson's Grass-tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0347 (Acrolophus cressoni) is a species in the family Tineidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cresson's Grass-tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0347?
Wingspan averages 15-20 mm. ( 3 ) , ( 3 )
How do you identify Cresson's Grass-tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0347?
The original description as Eulepiste cressoni Walsingham, 1882 and the Hasbrouck 1964 revised description as Acrolophus cressoni (Walsingham) are available online in the print references below or PDF. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). The only small Acrolophus with small palps and raised scales all over the forewings, giving the moth a bumpy appearance: The only Acrolophus this could be mistaken for in the East is simulatus, but that species has long palps. However, the genus Amydria appears to be frequently confused with A. cressoni. Amydria has no raised scales on the forewings, which allows it to be separated from cressoni with relative ease:
Where is Cresson's Grass-tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0347 found?
Range: Arizona to Kentucky, North Carolina and Florida. ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 8 ) , ( 9 ) , ( 10 ) , ( 11 ) , ( 12 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Cresson's Grass-tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0347 eat?
The diet of the Cresson's Grass-tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0347 includes Larval host is grass species. (Gramineae). ( 12 ).
When is Cresson's Grass-tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0347 active?
Cresson's Grass-tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0347: seasonal activity - Adults have been recorded mostly from May through October. ( 4 ) , ( 12 ).