Red-headed Ancylis - Hodges#3377
Ancylis muricana
This record describes Ancylis muricana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - original description : Palpi short, whitish, the apical point almost concealed: head and patagia pale ferruginous; antennae slightly darker; thorax purplish grey. Fore wings - the costa arched; apex falcate - with the basal portion (nearly half) steel-blue towards the costa, blending into reddish brown outwardly along the dorsal margin, bounded on the dorsal half by a whitish oblique patch, and on the costal half by a reddish-brown or ferruginous ill-defined fascia, which is connected on its outer edge with a ferruginous shade towards the apex: several very short oblique whitish costal streaks, prolonged in blue lines towards the upper edge of the pale ocellated patch, of which the inner half is suffused with shining steel-blue; there is a shining silvery line at the base of the pale ochreous cilia. Hind wings brownish fuscous; cilia paler. Type ♀ . Expanse of wings 10 mm. Beginning of May 1871, Washington (D.C.) Genitalia:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Enarmoniini
- Genus
- Ancylis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Eastern half of the United States and southeastern Canada. BugGuide Distribution
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Record here of caterpillar shows a host plant is blackberry ( Rubus species):
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin muricatus meaning "purple colored" for the "purplish grey" thorax.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ancylis muricana. 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 Red-headed Ancylis - Hodges#3377 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by cotinis , anitagould , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Red-headed Ancylis - Hodges#3377
What is Red-headed Ancylis - Hodges#3377?
Red-headed Ancylis - Hodges#3377 (Ancylis muricana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Red-headed Ancylis - Hodges#3377?
Wingspan 9-13 mm. ,
How do you identify Red-headed Ancylis - Hodges#3377?
Adult - original description : Palpi short, whitish, the apical point almost concealed: head and patagia pale ferruginous; antennae slightly darker; thorax purplish grey. Fore wings - the costa arched; apex falcate - with the basal portion (nearly half) steel-blue towards the costa, blending into reddish brown outwardly along the dorsal margin, bounded on the dorsal half by a whitish oblique patch, and on the costal half by a reddish-brown or ferruginous ill-defined fascia, which is connected on its outer edge with a ferruginous shade towards the apex: several very short oblique whitish costal streaks, prolonged in blue lines towards the upper edge of the pale ocellated patch, of which the inner half is suffused with shining steel-blue; there is a shining silvery line at the base of the pale ochreous cilia. Hind wings brownish fuscous; cilia paler. Type ♀ . Expanse of wings 10 mm. Beginning of May 1871, Washington (D.C.) Genitalia:
Where is Red-headed Ancylis - Hodges#3377 found?
Range: Eastern half of the United States and southeastern Canada. BugGuide Distribution
What is the life cycle of a Red-headed Ancylis - Hodges#3377?
Record here of caterpillar shows a host plant is blackberry ( Rubus species):