Amydria arizonella - Hodges#0328
Amydria arizonella
This record describes Amydria arizonella (species). Recorded family: Tineidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tineoidea
- Family
- Tineidae (Clothes Moths)
- Subfamily
- Acrolophinae
- Genus
- Amydria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Said to be the most common moth encountered in North American caves.
Geographic Range
Possibly coast to coast. Type location: Arizona (Phoenix, Huachuca).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Powell & Opler found them swarming at compost piles.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet for the type locality.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Amydria arizonella. 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 Amydria arizonella - Hodges#0328 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Randy Hardy; Additional contributions by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Amydria arizonella - Hodges#0328
How big is Amydria arizonella - Hodges#0328?
Forewing length 6-9 mm.
Where is Amydria arizonella - Hodges#0328 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Said to be the most common moth encountered in North American caves. |
| Range | Possibly coast to coast. Type location: Arizona (Phoenix, Huachuca). |
What does Amydria arizonella - Hodges#0328 eat?
The diet of the Amydria arizonella - Hodges#0328 includes Powell & Opler found them swarming at compost piles..