Adela punctiferella - Hodges#0219
Adela punctiferella
This record describes Adela punctiferella (species). Recorded family: Adelidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Adeloidea
- Family
- Adelidae (Fairy Moths)
- Subfamily
- Adelinae
- Genus
- Adela
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
"Semi-arid part of California and southern Nevada; east side of the Coast Ranges from Colusa County southward; southern end of the Sierra Nevada, the desert ranges east of the Sierra Nevada into Nye County, both cis- and transmontane sides of the Transverse and Peninsular Ranges to Riverside County." From the range descriptions given in Powell , this appears to be the only species of Adela present in transmontane desert areas of southern California.
Seasonal Activity
"Beginning of March to April at lower elevations, to mid-May in the interior mountains."
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Host plants for larvae are various species of Gilia (Polemoniaceae). Species G. tricolor and G. scopularum are cited in the literature ...a BugGuide post shows individuals on G. latiflora .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Adela punctiferella. 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 Adela punctiferella - Hodges#0219 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Aaron Schusteff; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Dave Webb
Frequently Asked Questions About Adela punctiferella - Hodges#0219
How big is Adela punctiferella - Hodges#0219?
Forewing length: 3.8-4.6mm
Where is Adela punctiferella - Hodges#0219 found?
Range: Semi-arid part of California and southern Nevada; east side of the Coast Ranges from Colusa County southward; southern end of the Sierra Nevada, the desert ranges east of the Sierra Nevada into Nye County, both cis- and transmontane sides of the Transverse and Peninsular Ranges to Riverside County. From the range descriptions given in Powell , this appears to be the only species of Adela present in transmontane desert areas of southern California.
What does Adela punctiferella - Hodges#0219 eat?
The diet of the Adela punctiferella - Hodges#0219 includes Host plants for larvae are various species of Gilia (Polemoniaceae). Species G. tricolor and G. scopularum are cited in the literature ...a BugGuide post shows individuals on G. latiflora ..
When is Adela punctiferella - Hodges#0219 active?
Adela punctiferella - Hodges#0219: seasonal activity - Beginning of March to April at lower elevations, to mid-May in the interior mountains..