Aroga paulella - Hodges#2194
Aroga paulella
This record describes Aroga paulella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : FW are shining dark blackish brown with white markings. The entire dorsal edge is white, reaching up the fold except right at the base and slightly crossing the fold with an upward projection at the apical third of the wing. Beginning at the basal one-fourth of the costa and reaching the costal white part is a sharply defined outwardly directed white fascia. At the apical fourth of the wing and nearly perpendicular on the costal edge is another narrower white fascia, somewhat dilated on the costal edge. HW are silvery pale grey. This species was for some time confused with Gelechia panella on BugGuide. See comments here .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Gelechiinae
- Tribe
- Gelechiini
- Genus
- Aroga
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Has been recorded from Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Aroga paulella. 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 Aroga paulella - Hodges#2194 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Terry Harrison; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Aroga paulella - Hodges#2194
What is Aroga paulella - Hodges#2194?
Aroga paulella - Hodges#2194 (Aroga paulella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Aroga paulella - Hodges#2194?
Wingspan: 13–23 mm
How do you identify Aroga paulella - Hodges#2194?
Adult : FW are shining dark blackish brown with white markings. The entire dorsal edge is white, reaching up the fold except right at the base and slightly crossing the fold with an upward projection at the apical third of the wing. Beginning at the basal one-fourth of the costa and reaching the costal white part is a sharply defined outwardly directed white fascia. At the apical fourth of the wing and nearly perpendicular on the costal edge is another narrower white fascia, somewhat dilated on the costal edge. HW are silvery pale grey.
Where is Aroga paulella - Hodges#2194 found?
Range: Has been recorded from Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming.