Aristotelia n. sp.
Aristotelia undescribed
This record describes Aristotelia undescribed (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Terry Harrison notes.
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
Range expected to be similar to that of host plant - Virginia down to Florida and across to East Texas.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Rattanvine ( Berchemia scandens ).
Life History
Larvae construct shelters by tying leaves together. Feeding and pupation takes place within the shelter.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Aristotelia undescribed. 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 n. sp. (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by George Smiley , Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Aristotelia n. sp.
How do you identify Aristotelia n. sp.?
Terry Harrison notes.
Where is Aristotelia n. sp. found?
Range: Range expected to be similar to that of host plant - Virginia down to Florida and across to East Texas.
What does Aristotelia n. sp. eat?
The diet of the Aristotelia n. sp. includes Rattanvine ( Berchemia scandens )..
What is the life cycle of a Aristotelia n. sp.?
Larvae construct shelters by tying leaves together. Feeding and pupation takes place within the shelter.