Aethes sexdentata - Hodges#3760.2
Aethes sexdentata
This record describes Aethes sexdentata (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Genitalia:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tortricinae
- Tribe
- Cochylini
- Genus
- Aethes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southeastern Canada and Northeastern United States. Holotype male: Grand Isle, Grand Isle County, Vermont, 7/27/1995 (M.S. Griggs ). Paratypes: Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Connecticut, Indiana, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae feed on Solidago sp. (Goldenrod).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "six-toothed," for the 4-12, but usually six, spines on the harpe of male genitalia.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Aethes sexdentata. 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 Aethes sexdentata - Hodges#3760.2 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Aethes sexdentata - Hodges#3760.2
How big is Aethes sexdentata - Hodges#3760.2?
Forewing length 5.7-8.2 mm.
How do you identify Aethes sexdentata - Hodges#3760.2?
Genitalia:
Where is Aethes sexdentata - Hodges#3760.2 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Range | Southeastern Canada and Northeastern United States. Holotype |
| Male | Grand Isle, Grand Isle County, Vermont, 7/27/1995 (M.S. Griggs ). Paratypes: Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Connecticut, Indiana, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington. |
What does Aethes sexdentata - Hodges#3760.2 eat?
The diet of the Aethes sexdentata - Hodges#3760.2 includes The larvae feed on Solidago sp. (Goldenrod)..