Agnippe abdita - Hodges#1768
Agnippe abdita
This record describes Agnippe abdita (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Gelechiinae
- Tribe
- Litini
- Genus
- Agnippe
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Utah, Arizona, and all of California. ( 4 ) Male type specimens reared from larvae found on curl-leaf mountain mahogany from Logan, Cache County, Utah; type female collected on Mt. Baldy, San Bernardino County, California (9 July).
Seasonal Activity
Larvae active during March in southern California, June in eastern California and Utah. ( 4 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Braun reported the host as curl-leaf mountain mahogany ( Cerocarpus ledifolius ) and Powell & Opler add alderleaf mountain mahogany ( Cercocarpus montanus ). ( 4 )
Life History
The larva spins a web on host plant, usually from a small side shoot to the underside of a larger leaf, then mine the leaf from under the web. Pupae make thin silken cocoons (Braun, 1925).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet is Latin for "secret, hidden". ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agnippe abdita. 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 Agnippe abdita - Hodges#1768 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Randy Hardy; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Agnippe abdita - Hodges#1768
How big is Agnippe abdita - Hodges#1768?
Wingspan 8.5-9.0 mm (Braun, 1925).
Where is Agnippe abdita - Hodges#1768 found?
Range: Utah, Arizona, and all of California. ( 4 ) Male type specimens reared from larvae found on curl-leaf mountain mahogany from Logan, Cache County, Utah; type female collected on Mt. Baldy, San Bernardino County, California (9 July).
What does Agnippe abdita - Hodges#1768 eat?
The diet of the Agnippe abdita - Hodges#1768 includes Braun reported the host as curl-leaf mountain mahogany ( Cerocarpus ledifolius ) and Powell & Opler add alderleaf mountain mahogany ( Cercocarpus montanus ). ( 4 ).
When is Agnippe abdita - Hodges#1768 active?
Agnippe abdita - Hodges#1768: seasonal activity - Larvae active during March in southern California, June in eastern California and Utah. ( 4 ).
What is the life cycle of a Agnippe abdita - Hodges#1768?
The larva spins a web on host plant, usually from a small side shoot to the underside of a larger leaf, then mine the leaf from under the web. Pupae make thin silken cocoons (Braun, 1925).