LepidopteraTortricidae – Tortricid Moths

Argyrotaenia lautana - Hodges#3619

Argyrotaenia lautana

This record describes Argyrotaenia lautana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Adult - A large species with broad pale tan forewings marked only by a small outer costal spot of red-brown.

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.

Additional species information

Species notes from the sources

Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin lautus meaning "washed," for the "uniform pale tan" forewings.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Argyrotaenia lautana. 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Argyrotaenia lautana - Hodges#3619

What is Argyrotaenia lautana - Hodges#3619?

Argyrotaenia lautana - Hodges#3619 (Argyrotaenia lautana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Argyrotaenia lautana - Hodges#3619?

Forewing length: males 9.4 mm, females 11.4 mm.

How do you identify Argyrotaenia lautana - Hodges#3619?

Adult - A large species with broad pale tan forewings marked only by a small outer costal spot of red-brown.