Anacampsis wikeri - Hodges# 2251.1
Anacampsis wikeri
This record describes Anacampsis wikeri (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The larva of a tortricid, Hystrichophora taleana , occupies the same feeding mode on leadplant at the same time as A. wikeri ; the tortricid larva is somewhat heavier, and has more prominent setal pinacula, than A. wikeri .
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
Habitat
Obligate prairie species.
Geographic Range
Presently known from Illinois and Iowa; actual range probably larger.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Monophagous on leadplant, Amorpha canescens (Fabaceae).
Life History
Univoltine, wintering as adult; mating occurs in spring; larva feeds in terminal leaflets of host, early in the season as leaves are first appearing; final-instar larva occurs mid- to late May (central Illinois); pupation and adult emergence follow straightaway, with most adults emerging around mid-June, then overwintering. Life cycle images: larva in leaf shelter; larva; spent pupae; adult
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named for Illinois lepidopterist James Wiker , who discovered the species and worked out the life history.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Anacampsis wikeri. 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 Anacampsis wikeri - Hodges# 2251.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Terry Harrison; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robert Lord Zimlich , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Anacampsis wikeri - Hodges# 2251.1
What is Anacampsis wikeri - Hodges# 2251.1?
Anacampsis wikeri - Hodges# 2251.1 (Anacampsis wikeri) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Anacampsis wikeri - Hodges# 2251.1 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Obligate prairie species. |
| Range | Presently known from Illinois and Iowa; actual range probably larger. |
What does Anacampsis wikeri - Hodges# 2251.1 eat?
The diet of the Anacampsis wikeri - Hodges# 2251.1 includes Monophagous on leadplant, Amorpha canescens (Fabaceae)..
What is the life cycle of a Anacampsis wikeri - Hodges# 2251.1?
Univoltine, wintering as adult; mating occurs in spring; larva feeds in terminal leaflets of host, early in the season as leaves are first appearing; final-instar larva occurs mid- to late May (central Illinois); pupation and adult emergence follow straightaway, with most adults emerging around mid-June, then overwintering. Life cycle images: larva in leaf shelter; larva; spent pupae; adult