LepidopteraTineidae – Clothes Moths

Amydria erecta - Hodges#0334.1

Amydria erecta

This record describes Amydria erecta (species). Recorded family: Tineidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Amydria erecta - Hodges#0334.1 - Amydria erecta
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Identification notes

Determined by Bob Patterson.

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

Geographic Range

Southern California. ,

Seasonal Activity

May, June and October records.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Amydria erecta. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Amydria erecta - Hodges#0334.1 (5)

Amydria erecta - Hodges#0334.1 - photo 1
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Amydria erecta - Hodges#0334.1 - photo 2
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Amydria erecta - Hodges#0334.1 - photo 3
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Amydria erecta - Hodges#0334.1 - photo 4
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Amydria erecta - Hodges#0334.1 - photo 5
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Frequently Asked Questions About Amydria erecta - Hodges#0334.1

How big is Amydria erecta - Hodges#0334.1?

Wingspan about 12 mm.

How do you identify Amydria erecta - Hodges#0334.1?

Determined by Bob Patterson.

Where is Amydria erecta - Hodges#0334.1 found?

Range: Southern California. ,

When is Amydria erecta - Hodges#0334.1 active?

Amydria erecta - Hodges#0334.1: seasonal activity - May, June and October records..

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.