Chionodes arenella - Hodges#2060
Chionodes arenella
This record describes Chionodes arenella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
From Forbes's description: Clay color…. Fore wing with darker grayish shading between the veins, leaving the veins contrastingly pale.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Gelechiinae
- Tribe
- Gelechiini
- Genus
- Chionodes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Dunes
Geographic Range
Coastal, NB to VA
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae are borers in the rhizomes of Ammophila brevilugulata .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Chionodes arenella. 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 Chionodes arenella - Hodges#2060 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Aaron Hunt; Additional contributions by Tony-2
Frequently Asked Questions About Chionodes arenella - Hodges#2060
What is Chionodes arenella - Hodges#2060?
Chionodes arenella - Hodges#2060 (Chionodes arenella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Chionodes arenella - Hodges#2060?
20mm expanse
How do you identify Chionodes arenella - Hodges#2060?
From Forbes's description: Clay color…. Fore wing with darker grayish shading between the veins, leaving the veins contrastingly pale.
Where is Chionodes arenella - Hodges#2060 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Dunes |
| Range | Coastal, NB to VA |
What does Chionodes arenella - Hodges#2060 eat?
The diet of the Chionodes arenella - Hodges#2060 includes Larvae are borers in the rhizomes of Ammophila brevilugulata ..