Late Tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0367
Acrolophus mora
This record describes Acrolophus mora (species). Recorded family: Tineidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Most easily distinguished from others in the genus by its late flight season (September-October), long after other Acrolophus in its range have peaked. It is mostly a Northeastern/Appalachian species, flying along with other late-season specialties like Papaipema and Metaxaglaea. Palps are shorter than other large eastern Acrolophus, the female’s sometimes not even visible in photos. Warm brown overall with obscure yellow-brown patches along the inner margin.
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.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Birches ; clover roots ( Ohio State U )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Acrolophus mora. 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 Late Tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0367 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , anitagould , marcie oconnor , dennepj10 , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Late Tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0367
What is Late Tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0367?
Late Tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0367 (Acrolophus mora) is a species in the family Tineidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Late Tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0367?
Most easily distinguished from others in the genus by its late flight season (September-October), long after other Acrolophus in its range have peaked. It is mostly a Northeastern/Appalachian species, flying along with other late-season specialties like Papaipema and Metaxaglaea. Palps are shorter than other large eastern Acrolophus, the female’s sometimes not even visible in photos. Warm brown overall with obscure yellow-brown patches along the inner margin.
What does Late Tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0367 eat?
The diet of the Late Tubeworm Moth - Hodges#0367 includes Birches ; clover roots ( Ohio State U ).