Antaeotricha albulella - Hodges#1024
Antaeotricha albulella
This record describes Antaeotricha albulella (species). Recorded family: Stenomatidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adults are white with a minute, indistinct ochreous spot at the end of the disc. There are also some scattered dark brown scales.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Stenomatidae
- Genus
- Antaeotricha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southeastern United States
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Oak ( Quercus species).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Becker (1981) synonymized Antaeotricha vestalis (Zeller, 1873) with Antaeotricha albulella (Walker, 1864).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Antaeotricha albulella. 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 Antaeotricha albulella - Hodges#1024 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by cotinis , Steve Nanz , Robert Lord Zimlich , George Smiley , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Antaeotricha albulella - Hodges#1024
What is Antaeotricha albulella - Hodges#1024?
Antaeotricha albulella - Hodges#1024 (Antaeotricha albulella) is a species in the family Stenomatidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Antaeotricha albulella - Hodges#1024?
Wingspan ≈ 15 mm
How do you identify Antaeotricha albulella - Hodges#1024?
Adults are white with a minute, indistinct ochreous spot at the end of the disc. There are also some scattered dark brown scales.
Where is Antaeotricha albulella - Hodges#1024 found?
Range: Southeastern United States
What does Antaeotricha albulella - Hodges#1024 eat?
The diet of the Antaeotricha albulella - Hodges#1024 includes Oak ( Quercus species)..