Antaeotricha irene - Hodges#1018
Antaeotricha irene
This record describes Antaeotricha irene (species). Recorded family: Stenomatidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
South Texas. Holotype ♂, Brownsville, Texas, no date.
Seasonal Activity
The adults are most common in January, June to September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Duckworth listed the host plant as Sida spp. (Malvaceae).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Antaeotricha irene. 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 irene - Hodges#1018 (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Antaeotricha irene - Hodges#1018
How big is Antaeotricha irene - Hodges#1018?
Duckworth listed the wingspan as 19-20 mm.
Where is Antaeotricha irene - Hodges#1018 found?
Range: South Texas. Holotype ♂, Brownsville, Texas, no date.
What does Antaeotricha irene - Hodges#1018 eat?
The diet of the Antaeotricha irene - Hodges#1018 includes Duckworth listed the host plant as Sida spp. (Malvaceae)..
When is Antaeotricha irene - Hodges#1018 active?
Antaeotricha irene - Hodges#1018: seasonal activity - The adults are most common in January, June to September..