Caloptilia packardella - Hodges#0620
Caloptilia packardella
This record describes Caloptilia packardella (species). Recorded family: Gracillariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Chambers (1872) original description as Gracilaria packardella is online. 27 . Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gracillarioidea
- Family
- Gracillariidae (Leaf Blotch Miner Moths)
- Subfamily
- Gracillariinae
- Genus
- Caloptilia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Quebec to Maine and south to Oklahoma and South Carolina. Beadle & Leckie reported the range to include southeastern Canada and northeastern United States.
Seasonal Activity
Usually two flights per year. April to November.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The larvae are leaf miners of several Acer species including: Acer platanoides L. (Norway maple). Acer saccharum Marshall (sugar maple). ( 4 ) Acer saccharinum L. (silver maple).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Caloptilia packardella. 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 Caloptilia packardella - Hodges#0620 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Caloptilia packardella - Hodges#0620
What is Caloptilia packardella - Hodges#0620?
Caloptilia packardella - Hodges#0620 (Caloptilia packardella) is a species in the family Gracillariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Caloptilia packardella - Hodges#0620?
Wingspan averages 11-13 mm. Chambers (1872) listed a wingspan of .5" (12.7 mm).
How do you identify Caloptilia packardella - Hodges#0620?
Chambers (1872) original description as Gracilaria packardella is online. 27 . Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Where is Caloptilia packardella - Hodges#0620 found?
Range: Quebec to Maine and south to Oklahoma and South Carolina. Beadle & Leckie reported the range to include southeastern Canada and northeastern United States.
What does Caloptilia packardella - Hodges#0620 eat?
The diet of the Caloptilia packardella - Hodges#0620 includes The larvae are leaf miners of several Acer species including: Acer platanoides L. (Norway maple). Acer saccharum Marshall (sugar maple). ( 4 ) Acer saccharinum L. (silver maple)..
When is Caloptilia packardella - Hodges#0620 active?
Caloptilia packardella - Hodges#0620: seasonal activity - Usually two flights per year. April to November..