Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliella - Hodges#0518
Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliella
This record describes Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliella (species). Recorded family: Bucculatricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gracillarioidea
- Family
- Bucculatricidae (Ribbed Cocoon-maker Moths)
- Genus
- Bucculatrix
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
KY, OH, PA, MO, IA, TX, CA [cite:746613:84]
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Ambrosia trifida (Giant Ragweed), A. artemisiifolia (Common Ragweed), Helianthus (sunflower) [cite:746613:85]
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliella. 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 Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliella - Hodges#0518 (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Edward L. Ruden; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliella - Hodges#0518
How big is Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliella - Hodges#0518?
Wingspan: 7.5-8 mm
Where is Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliella - Hodges#0518 found?
Range: KY, OH, PA, MO, IA, TX, CA [cite:746613:84]
What does Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliella - Hodges#0518 eat?
The diet of the Bucculatrix ambrosiaefoliella - Hodges#0518 includes Ambrosia trifida (Giant Ragweed), A. artemisiifolia (Common Ragweed), Helianthus (sunflower) [cite:746613:85].