Agonopterix lythrella - Hodges#0857
Agonopterix lythrella
This record describes Agonopterix lythrella (species). Recorded family: Depressariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Confusion with Agonopterix walsinghamella on BugGuide has occurred for several years. The two species have several notable differences though: -Agonopterix walsinghamella has mostly gray scaling with some red and black scales on the top of the thorax and head, while Agonopterix lythrella has mostly light brown scaling there with a lateral dark streak down the thorax visible in fresh specimens -Agonopterix walsinghamella has two black spots (often very faint) in the forewing cell, while Agonopterix lythrella has the two spots combined into a bold stripe -Agonopterix walsinghamella has has relatively elongate forewings, while Agonopterix lythrella has relatively shorter/stubbier wings
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: Loosestrife and Saint John's Wort
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agonopterix lythrella. 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 lythrella - Hodges#0857 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by marcie oconnor , dennepj10
Frequently Asked Questions About Agonopterix lythrella - Hodges#0857
What is Agonopterix lythrella - Hodges#0857?
Agonopterix lythrella - Hodges#0857 (Agonopterix lythrella) is a species in the family Depressariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Agonopterix lythrella - Hodges#0857?
Confusion with Agonopterix walsinghamella on BugGuide has occurred for several years. The two species have several notable differences though: -Agonopterix walsinghamella has mostly gray scaling with some red and black scales on the top of the thorax and head, while Agonopterix lythrella has mostly light brown scaling there with a lateral dark streak down the thorax visible in fresh specimens -Agonopterix walsinghamella has two black spots (often very faint) in the forewing cell, while Agonopterix lythrella has the two spots combined into a bold stripe -Agonopterix walsinghamella has has relatively elongate forewings, while Agonopterix lythrella has relatively shorter/stubbier wings
What does Agonopterix lythrella - Hodges#0857 eat?
The diet of the Agonopterix lythrella - Hodges#0857 includes Loosestrife and Saint John's Wort.