Bactra maiorina - Hodges#2708
Bactra maiorina
This record describes Bactra maiorina (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Olethreutini
- Genus
- Bactra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Heinrich examined specimens from New York, Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Utah. Powell confirms their presence in California. There are BugGuide and MPG records across much of the United States, less the northwest and the northeast. Type locality: Arlington, Virginia.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts include river bulrush ( Bolboschoenus fluviatilis ), broadleaf cattail ( Typha latifolia ) and bulrush ( Scirpus ). ( 5 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin maior meaning "greater, larger."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Bactra maiorina. 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 Bactra maiorina - Hodges#2708 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Bactra maiorina - Hodges#2708
How big is Bactra maiorina - Hodges#2708?
Wingspan 13-20 mm. , Powell notes that California specimens (FWL 8.2-10.5 mm) tend to be larger.
Where is Bactra maiorina - Hodges#2708 found?
Range: Heinrich examined specimens from New York, Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Utah. Powell confirms their presence in California. There are BugGuide and MPG records across much of the United States, less the northwest and the northeast. Type locality: Arlington, Virginia.
What does Bactra maiorina - Hodges#2708 eat?
The diet of the Bactra maiorina - Hodges#2708 includes Larval hosts include river bulrush ( Bolboschoenus fluviatilis ), broadleaf cattail ( Typha latifolia ) and bulrush ( Scirpus ). ( 5 ).