Agonopterix chrautis - Hodges#0871
Agonopterix chrautis
This record describes Agonopterix chrautis (species). Recorded family: Depressariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
See key to Agonopterix species in Hodges (1974). Pristine reared individuals are vividly colored, whereas most flown moths appear comparatively faded, apparently because the dark scaling on the forewing is quickly worn off in the field. The life history was unknown until 2023, when M. J. Hatfield reared the moth from larvae collected on Zizia aurea in Iowa.
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.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Type locality, Jemez Springs New Mexico; also known from California, Oregon and Iowa USA and from Alberta, Canada.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larva feeds on leaves (and in the early instars, possibly on flowers) of Zizia aurea in Iowa, often webbing together leaves and flowers at the apex of the plant. The larval damage and the larva resemble those of Agonopterix clemensella , which feeds on a number of Apiaceae species, including Z. aurea .
Life History
Univoltine, with larvae in May (Iowa); adults emerging in June and persisting until mating the following spring. Larva in weaving; larva; larva; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agonopterix chrautis. 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 chrautis - Hodges#0871 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Terry Harrison; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , Dave Webb
Frequently Asked Questions About Agonopterix chrautis - Hodges#0871
What is Agonopterix chrautis - Hodges#0871?
Agonopterix chrautis - Hodges#0871 (Agonopterix chrautis) is a species in the family Depressariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Agonopterix chrautis - Hodges#0871?
Forewing length 8.0 mm to 10.8 mm.
How do you identify Agonopterix chrautis - Hodges#0871?
See key to Agonopterix species in Hodges (1974). Pristine reared individuals are vividly colored, whereas most flown moths appear comparatively faded, apparently because the dark scaling on the forewing is quickly worn off in the field.
Where is Agonopterix chrautis - Hodges#0871 found?
Range: Type locality, Jemez Springs New Mexico; also known from California, Oregon and Iowa USA and from Alberta, Canada.
What does Agonopterix chrautis - Hodges#0871 eat?
The diet of the Agonopterix chrautis - Hodges#0871 includes The larva feeds on leaves (and in the early instars, possibly on flowers) of Zizia aurea in Iowa, often webbing together leaves and flowers at the apex of the plant. The larval damage and the larva resemble those of Agonopterix clemensella , which feeds on a number of Apiaceae species, including Z. aurea ..
What is the life cycle of a Agonopterix chrautis - Hodges#0871?
Univoltine, with larvae in May (Iowa); adults emerging in June and persisting until mating the following spring. Larva in weaving; larva; larva; adult