Red-striped Fireworm Moth - Hodges#2198
Aroga trialbamaculella
This record describes Aroga trialbamaculella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 )
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
Heppner (2003) reported the range to include Maine to Florida; Illinois to Texas. ( 4 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
The adults appear to be most common March to October, but have records every moth of the year. Heppner listed January to September, November and December for Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner (2003) listed the following host plants. ( 4 ) Comptonia sp. (sweet fern) Myricaceae [Myrtaceae]. Epigaea sp. (trailing arbutus) Ericaceae. Myrtus sp. (myrtle) Myricaceae. Quercus ilicifolia Wangenh. (bear oak) Fagaceae. Quercus laevis Walter (turkey oak). Robinia sp. (locust) Leguminosae. Vaccinium ashei [ Vaccinium virgatum ] (blueberry) Ericaceae.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Aroga trialbamaculella. 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 Red-striped Fireworm Moth - Hodges#2198 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Nick Block
Frequently Asked Questions About Red-striped Fireworm Moth - Hodges#2198
What is Red-striped Fireworm Moth - Hodges#2198?
Red-striped Fireworm Moth - Hodges#2198 (Aroga trialbamaculella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Red-striped Fireworm Moth - Hodges#2198?
Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD). ( 3 )
Where is Red-striped Fireworm Moth - Hodges#2198 found?
Range: Heppner (2003) reported the range to include Maine to Florida; Illinois to Texas. ( 4 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Red-striped Fireworm Moth - Hodges#2198 eat?
The diet of the Red-striped Fireworm Moth - Hodges#2198 includes Heppner (2003) listed the following host plants. ( 4 ) Comptonia sp. (sweet fern) Myricaceae [Myrtaceae]. Epigaea sp. (trailing arbutus) Ericaceae. Myrtus sp. (myrtle) Myricaceae. Quercus ilicifolia Wangenh. (bear oak) Fagaceae. Quercus laevis Walter (turkey oak). Robinia sp. (locust) Leguminosae. Vaccinium ashei [ Vaccinium virgatum ] (blueberry) Ericaceae..
When is Red-striped Fireworm Moth - Hodges#2198 active?
Red-striped Fireworm Moth - Hodges#2198: seasonal activity - The adults appear to be most common March to October, but have records every moth of the year. Heppner listed January to September, November and December for Florida..