Sparkling Aterpia - Hodges#2748
Aterpia approximana
This record describes Aterpia approximana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Heinrich original description as Olethreutes approximana , and Heinrich revised description as Esia approximana are online and linked in the print references. Forewing black, liberally sprinkled with bright blue spots and blotches. Genitalia:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Olethreutini
- Genus
- Aterpia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Wet prairie, damp flood plains.
Geographic Range
Moth Photographers Group map Holotype male from USA, New York, Rensselaer (Dr. E.P. Felt ).
Seasonal Activity
There are records from April to October with the main flight period June to August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae feed on leaves of fringed loosestrife L. ( Lysimachia ciliata ) and perhaps other Lysimachia species.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin approximans meaning "approaching" as it "resembles very strikingly O. cyanana Murtfeldt."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Aterpia approximana. 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 Sparkling Aterpia - Hodges#2748 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Sparkling Aterpia - Hodges#2748
What is Sparkling Aterpia - Hodges#2748?
Sparkling Aterpia - Hodges#2748 (Aterpia approximana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Sparkling Aterpia - Hodges#2748?
Heinrich and Heinrich listed the wingspan 12-13 mm.
How do you identify Sparkling Aterpia - Hodges#2748?
Heinrich original description as Olethreutes approximana , and Heinrich revised description as Esia approximana are online and linked in the print references. Forewing black, liberally sprinkled with bright blue spots and blotches. Genitalia:
Where is Sparkling Aterpia - Hodges#2748 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Wet prairie, damp flood plains. |
| Range | Moth Photographers Group map Holotype male from USA, New York, Rensselaer (Dr. E.P. Felt ). |
What does Sparkling Aterpia - Hodges#2748 eat?
The diet of the Sparkling Aterpia - Hodges#2748 includes The larvae feed on leaves of fringed loosestrife L. ( Lysimachia ciliata ) and perhaps other Lysimachia species..
When is Sparkling Aterpia - Hodges#2748 active?
Sparkling Aterpia - Hodges#2748: seasonal activity - There are records from April to October with the main flight period June to August..