Agonopterix argillacea - Hodges#0889
Agonopterix argillacea
This record describes Agonopterix argillacea (species). Recorded family: Depressariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Genitalia:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Depressariidae
- Subfamily
- Depressariinae
- Genus
- Agonopterix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Indigo bush - Amorpha fruiticosa , also: Gray Alder, Paper Birch, Trembling Aspen, Common Hoptree, and several willows. ( Moths of North Carolina )
Life History
Pupa; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agonopterix argillacea. 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 Agonopterix argillacea - Hodges#0889 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by anitagould , marcie oconnor , Robert H. Biagi , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Agonopterix argillacea - Hodges#0889
How do you identify Agonopterix argillacea - Hodges#0889?
Genitalia:
What does Agonopterix argillacea - Hodges#0889 eat?
The diet of the Agonopterix argillacea - Hodges#0889 includes Indigo bush - Amorpha fruiticosa , also: Gray Alder, Paper Birch, Trembling Aspen, Common Hoptree, and several willows. ( Moths of North Carolina ).
What is the life cycle of a Agonopterix argillacea - Hodges#0889?
Pupa; adult