LepidopteraGelechiidae – Twirler Moths

Anacampsis psoraliella - Hodges#2247

Anacampsis psoraliella

This record describes Anacampsis psoraliella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Anacampsis psoraliella - Hodges#2247 - Anacampsis psoraliella
Contributed by Kyhl Austin; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Gelechioidea
Family
Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
Subfamily
Anacampsinae
Tribe
Anacampsini
Genus
Anacampsis

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Records from Iowa and Oklahoma. Barnes & Busck specimens: Sioux City, Iowa, on Psoralea argophylla (bred by Dr. A.W. Lindsey ).

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Recorded from Silverleaf Indian Breadroot ( Psoralea argophylla ) and Slimflower Scurfpea ( Psoralidium tenuiflorum ) (both Fabaceae).

Additional species information

Species notes from the sources

Etymology: Specific epithet for the host plant genus.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Anacampsis psoraliella. 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 Anacampsis psoraliella - Hodges#2247 (3)

Anacampsis psoraliella - Hodges#2247 - photo 1
Contributed by Kyhl Austin; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Anacampsis psoraliella - Hodges#2247 - photo 2
Contributed by Kyhl Austin; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Anacampsis psoraliella - Hodges#2247 - photo 3
Contributed by Kyhl Austin; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy

Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy

Frequently Asked Questions About Anacampsis psoraliella - Hodges#2247

How big is Anacampsis psoraliella - Hodges#2247?

Wingspan: 18-21 mm.

Where is Anacampsis psoraliella - Hodges#2247 found?

Range: Records from Iowa and Oklahoma. Barnes & Busck specimens: Sioux City, Iowa, on Psoralea argophylla (bred by Dr. A.W. Lindsey ).

What does Anacampsis psoraliella - Hodges#2247 eat?

The diet of the Anacampsis psoraliella - Hodges#2247 includes Recorded from Silverleaf Indian Breadroot ( Psoralea argophylla ) and Slimflower Scurfpea ( Psoralidium tenuiflorum ) (both Fabaceae)..

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

Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.