Argyrotaenia niscana - Hodges#3610
Argyrotaenia niscana
This record describes Argyrotaenia niscana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - see original description in Print References. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
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
California. , Type location: Carmel, California.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet is part of a series of Kearfott names originating from various alphabetical rhyming schemes with no meaning, often derided by subsequent authors as "nonsense names." See Brown for a humorous take on this "barbarous" practice. ,
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Argyrotaenia niscana. 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 niscana - Hodges#3610 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason J. Dombroskie; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Argyrotaenia niscana - Hodges#3610
What is Argyrotaenia niscana - Hodges#3610?
Argyrotaenia niscana - Hodges#3610 (Argyrotaenia niscana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Argyrotaenia niscana - Hodges#3610?
Wingspan 15-17 mm.
How do you identify Argyrotaenia niscana - Hodges#3610?
Adult - see original description in Print References. Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Argyrotaenia niscana - Hodges#3610 found?
Range: California. , Type location: Carmel, California.