LepidopteraTineidae – Clothes Moths

Acrolophus griseus - Hodges#0355

Acrolophus griseus

This record describes Acrolophus griseus (species). Recorded family: Tineidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Acrolophus griseus - Hodges#0355 - Acrolophus griseus
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Walsingham original description as Hypoclopus griseus is available in PDF. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).

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

California and Nevada to Texas. , ,

Seasonal Activity

The main flight period is April to July.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acrolophus griseus. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Acrolophus griseus - Hodges#0355 (5)

Acrolophus griseus - Hodges#0355 - photo 1
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Acrolophus griseus - Hodges#0355 - photo 2
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Acrolophus griseus - Hodges#0355 - photo 3
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Acrolophus griseus - Hodges#0355 - photo 4
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Acrolophus griseus - Hodges#0355 - photo 5
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Frequently Asked Questions About Acrolophus griseus - Hodges#0355

What is Acrolophus griseus - Hodges#0355?

Acrolophus griseus - Hodges#0355 (Acrolophus griseus) is a species in the family Tineidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Acrolophus griseus - Hodges#0355?

Wingspan 22-26 mm. ,

How do you identify Acrolophus griseus - Hodges#0355?

Walsingham original description as Hypoclopus griseus is available in PDF. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).

Where is Acrolophus griseus - Hodges#0355 found?

Range: California and Nevada to Texas. , ,

When is Acrolophus griseus - Hodges#0355 active?

Acrolophus griseus - Hodges#0355: seasonal activity - The main flight period is April to July..

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.