Agonopterix eupatoriiella - Hodges#0866
Agonopterix eupatoriiella
This record describes Agonopterix eupatoriiella (species). Recorded family: Depressariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Heppner (2003) listed the range to include Pennsylvania to Florida, Illinois to Mississippi. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner (2003) listed the following host plants. ( 3 ) Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch (shagbark hickory). Eupatorium sp. Verbesina alternifolia (L.) Britton ex Kearney (wingstem; listed as Actinomeris alternifolia ). Tracy S. Feldman has also reared this species from Verbesina occidentalis Walter. Leafcup Polymnia canadensis ( MJ Hatfield )
Life History
Larva in leaf shelter; larva; pupa; adult
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agonopterix eupatoriiella. 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 eupatoriiella - Hodges#0866 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by ceiseman , marcie oconnor , JoAnneRusso
Frequently Asked Questions About Agonopterix eupatoriiella - Hodges#0866
How big is Agonopterix eupatoriiella - Hodges#0866?
Wingspan 20-23 mm.
Where is Agonopterix eupatoriiella - Hodges#0866 found?
Range: Heppner (2003) listed the range to include Pennsylvania to Florida, Illinois to Mississippi. ( 3 )
What does Agonopterix eupatoriiella - Hodges#0866 eat?
The diet of the Agonopterix eupatoriiella - Hodges#0866 includes Heppner (2003) listed the following host plants. ( 3 ) Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch (shagbark hickory). Eupatorium sp. Verbesina alternifolia (L.) Britton ex Kearney (wingstem; listed as Actinomeris alternifolia ). Tracy S. Feldman has also reared this species from Verbesina occidentalis Walter. Leafcup Polymnia canadensis ( MJ Hatfield ).
What is the life cycle of a Agonopterix eupatoriiella - Hodges#0866?
Larva in leaf shelter; larva; pupa; adult