Aristotelia argentifera - Hodges#1730
Aristotelia argentifera
This record describes Aristotelia argentifera (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Original description is online in PDF.
Identification notes
Original description is online in PDF.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Anomologinae
- Genus
- Aristotelia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California ( 4 ) and western Nevada. ( 3 ) Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Known larval foodplants include: ( 3 ) California goldenbush, Ericameria ericoides (Less.) Jeps Coyotebrush, Baccharis pilularis DC.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "silver," for the "strongly metallic silvery and bluish iridescent scales" on the wings.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Aristotelia argentifera. 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 Aristotelia argentifera - Hodges#1730 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Aristotelia argentifera - Hodges#1730
What is Aristotelia argentifera - Hodges#1730?
Aristotelia argentifera - Hodges#1730 (Aristotelia argentifera) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Aristotelia argentifera - Hodges#1730?
Forewing length 5-7.5 mm. ( 3 )
How do you identify Aristotelia argentifera - Hodges#1730?
Original description is online in PDF.
Where is Aristotelia argentifera - Hodges#1730 found?
Range: California ( 4 ) and western Nevada. ( 3 ) Moth Photographers Group - large range map with collection dates.
What does Aristotelia argentifera - Hodges#1730 eat?
The diet of the Aristotelia argentifera - Hodges#1730 includes Known larval foodplants include: ( 3 ) California goldenbush, Ericameria ericoides (Less.) Jeps Coyotebrush, Baccharis pilularis DC..