Sea-heath Plume Moth - Hodges#6089
Agdistis americana
This record describes Agdistis americana (species). Recorded family: Pterophoridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The genus is distinctive among American Plume Moths (Pterophoridae) in having both fore-wings and hind-wings entire (i.e. lacking the irregularly-cleft fringes along the trailing edges of the wings, typical of other plume moths). In living specimens, the posture enables easy recognition in combination with the specialized habitat. Wings are angled upward forming an overall Y shape, rather than at right angles to the thorax forming a T as in most other Pterophorid genera:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pterophoroidea
- Family
- Pterophoridae (Plume Moths)
- Subfamily
- Agdistinae
- Genus
- Agdistis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Coastal salt marshes.
Geographic Range
Southern California (including Channel Islands) and both coasts of Baja California, Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
Larvae have been found in March (emerging in April) and May (emerging in June). Adults have been collected from March to May and also from September to October, suggesting at least two generations a year.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host plant is the salt marsh plant Alkali Heath ( Frankenia salina ) .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agdistis americana. 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 Sea-heath Plume Moth - Hodges#6089 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Aaron Schusteff; Additional contributions by James Bailey , treichard
Frequently Asked Questions About Sea-heath Plume Moth - Hodges#6089
What is Sea-heath Plume Moth - Hodges#6089?
Sea-heath Plume Moth - Hodges#6089 (Agdistis americana) is a species in the family Pterophoridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Sea-heath Plume Moth - Hodges#6089?
FW: 9-10.7 mm
How do you identify Sea-heath Plume Moth - Hodges#6089?
The genus is distinctive among American Plume Moths (Pterophoridae) in having both fore-wings and hind-wings entire (i.e. lacking the irregularly-cleft fringes along the trailing edges of the wings, typical of other plume moths). In living specimens, the posture enables easy recognition in combination with the specialized habitat. Wings are angled upward forming an overall Y shape, rather than at right angles to the thorax forming a T as in most other Pterophorid genera:
Where is Sea-heath Plume Moth - Hodges#6089 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Coastal salt marshes. |
| Range | Southern California (including Channel Islands) and both coasts of Baja California, Mexico. |
What does Sea-heath Plume Moth - Hodges#6089 eat?
The diet of the Sea-heath Plume Moth - Hodges#6089 includes Larval host plant is the salt marsh plant Alkali Heath ( Frankenia salina ) ..
When is Sea-heath Plume Moth - Hodges#6089 active?
Sea-heath Plume Moth - Hodges#6089: seasonal activity - Larvae have been found in March (emerging in April) and May (emerging in June). Adults have been collected from March to May and also from September to October, suggesting at least two generations a year..