Cacocharis cymotoma - Hodges#2704
Cacocharis cymotoma
This record describes Cacocharis cymotoma (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
- Cacocharis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Florida, the Caribbean, Central America and much of South America. Holotype Male: British Guiana, Bartica ( Parish , Jan 1913) (BMNH).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is the Tahitian gooseberry tree ( Phyllanthus acidus ). ,
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cacocharis cymotoma. 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 Cacocharis cymotoma - Hodges#2704 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ken Schneider; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Cacocharis cymotoma - Hodges#2704
How big is Cacocharis cymotoma - Hodges#2704?
Wingspan about 13-14 mm (Meyrick, 1917).
Where is Cacocharis cymotoma - Hodges#2704 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Range | Florida, the Caribbean, Central America and much of South America. Holotype |
| Male | British Guiana, Bartica ( Parish , Jan 1913) (BMNH). |
What does Cacocharis cymotoma - Hodges#2704 eat?
The diet of the Cacocharis cymotoma - Hodges#2704 includes Larval host is the Tahitian gooseberry tree ( Phyllanthus acidus ). ,.