Chionodes emptor - Hodges#2072.3
Chionodes emptor
This record describes Chionodes emptor (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult : Usually the scales on the head are tipped with dark gray/black and the transition is relatively abrupt. Males of have sex scales on the dorsolateral surface of HW.
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
Geographic Range
Has been recorded from South Carolina to Florida and Texas
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Chionodes emptor. 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 emptor - Hodges#2072.3 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robert Lord Zimlich , Chuck Sexton
Frequently Asked Questions About Chionodes emptor - Hodges#2072.3
What is Chionodes emptor - Hodges#2072.3?
Chionodes emptor - Hodges#2072.3 (Chionodes emptor) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Chionodes emptor - Hodges#2072.3?
Adult : Usually the scales on the head are tipped with dark gray/black and the transition is relatively abrupt. Males of have sex scales on the dorsolateral surface of HW.
Where is Chionodes emptor - Hodges#2072.3 found?
Range: Has been recorded from South Carolina to Florida and Texas