Agonopterix posticella - Hodges#0896
Agonopterix posticella
This record describes Agonopterix posticella (species). Recorded family: Depressariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Clarke describes the adult, including 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.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California and Arizona to Colorado, Alberta, and Oregon. , , Clarke listed the range as "Western United States" Holotype collected in Lake County, California.
Seasonal Activity
The adults are most common from May to September. ( 5 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Clarke reported the following larval host plants. Rupertia physodes (Douglas ex Hook.) J. Grimes [syn. Psoralea physodes ], forest scurfpea. Hoita macrostachya (DC.) Rydb. [syn. Psoralea macrostachya ], large leather-root. Psoralidium tenuiflorum (Pursh) Rydb. [syn. Psoralea tenuiflora ], slimflower scurfpea.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Agonopterix posticella. 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 posticella - Hodges#0896 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Agonopterix posticella - Hodges#0896
What is Agonopterix posticella - Hodges#0896?
Agonopterix posticella - Hodges#0896 (Agonopterix posticella) is a species in the family Depressariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Agonopterix posticella - Hodges#0896?
Clarke reported the wingspan as 17-21 mm. Powell & Opler reported the forewing length as 5.5-8.5 mm.
How do you identify Agonopterix posticella - Hodges#0896?
Clarke describes the adult, including genitalia.
Where is Agonopterix posticella - Hodges#0896 found?
Range: California and Arizona to Colorado, Alberta, and Oregon. , , Clarke listed the range as Western United States Holotype collected in Lake County, California.
What does Agonopterix posticella - Hodges#0896 eat?
The diet of the Agonopterix posticella - Hodges#0896 includes Clarke reported the following larval host plants. Rupertia physodes (Douglas ex Hook.) J. Grimes [syn. Psoralea physodes ], forest scurfpea. Hoita macrostachya (DC.) Rydb. [syn. Psoralea macrostachya ], large leather-root. Psoralidium tenuiflorum (Pursh) Rydb. [syn. Psoralea tenuiflora ], slimflower scurfpea..
When is Agonopterix posticella - Hodges#0896 active?
Agonopterix posticella - Hodges#0896: seasonal activity - The adults are most common from May to September. ( 5 ).