Caloptilia triadicae - Hodges#0644.1
Caloptilia triadicae
This record describes Caloptilia triadicae (species). Recorded family: Gracillariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Much confusion over the species in recent years as to placement. Acrocercops was considered. Introduced from China; mines and then rolls leaves of the invasive Chinese tallow tree. See forum topic for more information. Also see Terry Harrison's comment here regarding the differences in larval habits from native Caloptilia species.
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
Texas and Oklahoma to Florida and South Carolina.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Davis et al. reported Chinese Tallow - Triadica sebifera (Euphorbiaceae)
Life History
Distinctive leaf rolling behavior
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Davis et al. stated "The species name is derived from the generic name of its primary plant host, Triadica , and is considered an adjective in the nominative singular."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Caloptilia triadicae. 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 triadicae - Hodges#0644.1 (10)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Bob Patterson , Beatriz Moisset , Will Cook , Mike Quinn , Maury Heiman , Robert Lord Zimlich
Frequently Asked Questions About Caloptilia triadicae - Hodges#0644.1
What is Caloptilia triadicae - Hodges#0644.1?
Caloptilia triadicae - Hodges#0644.1 (Caloptilia triadicae) is a species in the family Gracillariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Caloptilia triadicae - Hodges#0644.1 found?
Range: Texas and Oklahoma to Florida and South Carolina.
What does Caloptilia triadicae - Hodges#0644.1 eat?
The diet of the Caloptilia triadicae - Hodges#0644.1 includes Davis et al. reported Chinese Tallow - Triadica sebifera (Euphorbiaceae).
What is the life cycle of a Caloptilia triadicae - Hodges#0644.1?
Distinctive leaf rolling behavior