Arotrura sponsella - Hodges#1676
Arotrura sponsella
This record describes Arotrura sponsella (species). Recorded family: Scythrididae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Scythrididae (Flower Moths)
- Genus
- Arotrura
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Desert.
Geographic Range
Southern California and Arizona. Holotype from Yuma County, Arizona.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Arotrura sponsella. 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 Arotrura sponsella - Hodges#1676 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Arotrura sponsella - Hodges#1676
What is Arotrura sponsella - Hodges#1676?
Arotrura sponsella - Hodges#1676 (Arotrura sponsella) is a species in the family Scythrididae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Arotrura sponsella - Hodges#1676?
Busck listed a wingspan of 20 mm. Powell & Opler listed the forewing length 8.5-9.5 mm.
How do you identify Arotrura sponsella - Hodges#1676?
Specimen determined by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Arotrura sponsella - Hodges#1676 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Desert. |
| Range | Southern California and Arizona. Holotype from Yuma County, Arizona. |