Argyrotaenia dorsalana - Hodges#3618
Argyrotaenia dorsalana
This record describes Argyrotaenia dorsalana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - pale yellow with variable dark markings. In parts of the Great Basin ground color is rust orange.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Tortricinae
- Tribe
- Archipini
- Genus
- Argyrotaenia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southern British Columbia to eastern California, western Colorado, northern Arizona and New Mexico.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Mostly conifers, including pine, spruce and even juniper. Douglas fir is preferred host in British Columbia, pinyon pine in the Great Basin. Described from larvae bred on oak. ,
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin dorsum for the sometimes prominent dorsal markings.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Argyrotaenia dorsalana. 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 Argyrotaenia dorsalana - Hodges#3618 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John Davis; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Argyrotaenia dorsalana - Hodges#3618
What is Argyrotaenia dorsalana - Hodges#3618?
Argyrotaenia dorsalana - Hodges#3618 (Argyrotaenia dorsalana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Argyrotaenia dorsalana - Hodges#3618?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | Wingspan 18-24 mm. |
| Forewing | Forewing length 8-12 mm. |
How do you identify Argyrotaenia dorsalana - Hodges#3618?
Adult - pale yellow with variable dark markings. In parts of the Great Basin ground color is rust orange.
Where is Argyrotaenia dorsalana - Hodges#3618 found?
Range: Southern British Columbia to eastern California, western Colorado, northern Arizona and New Mexico.
What does Argyrotaenia dorsalana - Hodges#3618 eat?
The diet of the Argyrotaenia dorsalana - Hodges#3618 includes Mostly conifers, including pine, spruce and even juniper. Douglas fir is preferred host in British Columbia, pinyon pine in the Great Basin. Described from larvae bred on oak. ,.