Tupelo Leaffolder - Hodges#5818
Actrix nyssaecolella
This record describes Actrix nyssaecolella (species). Recorded family: Pyralidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing light gray with dark gray band across PM area and dark gray hourglass-shaped marking in AM area bisected by thick diagonal whitish line; subterminal line whitish, diffuse, edged distally with dark gray; terminal line composed of several dark dots; hindwing brownish-gray with pale fringe
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Phycitinae
- Tribe
- Phycitini
- Genus
- Actrix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Michigan and New York to Florida, west to Texas
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April to July Larvae are present in July and August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of tupelo ( Nyssa spp.)
Life History
Overwinter as pupa.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: nyssaecolella is from Latin Nyssa (scientific name for Tupelo) + -cola "dweller" + the diminutive ending -ella. Taken together it translates to: "little dweller of Tupelos"
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Actrix nyssaecolella. 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 Tupelo Leaffolder - Hodges#5818 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Chuck Entz , Marci Hess , Blocky , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Tupelo Leaffolder - Hodges#5818
What is Tupelo Leaffolder - Hodges#5818?
Tupelo Leaffolder - Hodges#5818 (Actrix nyssaecolella) is a species in the family Pyralidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Tupelo Leaffolder - Hodges#5818?
wingspan about 15-18 mm, based on two Internet photos
How do you identify Tupelo Leaffolder - Hodges#5818?
Adult: forewing light gray with dark gray band across PM area and dark gray hourglass-shaped marking in AM area bisected by thick diagonal whitish line; subterminal line whitish, diffuse, edged distally with dark gray; terminal line composed of several dark dots; hindwing brownish-gray with pale fringe
Where is Tupelo Leaffolder - Hodges#5818 found?
Range: Michigan and New York to Florida, west to Texas
What does Tupelo Leaffolder - Hodges#5818 eat?
The diet of the Tupelo Leaffolder - Hodges#5818 includes larvae feed on leaves of tupelo ( Nyssa spp.).
When is Tupelo Leaffolder - Hodges#5818 active?
Tupelo Leaffolder - Hodges#5818: seasonal activity - adults fly from April to July Larvae are present in July and August..
What is the life cycle of a Tupelo Leaffolder - Hodges#5818?
Overwinter as pupa.