Chionodes formosella - Hodges#2077
Chionodes formosella
This record describes Chionodes formosella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Chionodes formosella and Chionodes fuscomaculella can be distinguished from Chionodes bicostomaculella by the presence of yellow scaling ( Chionodes bicostomaculella is entirely grayscale). Chionodes formosella and Chionodes fuscomaculella are easily confused, but in Chionodes formosella , there are large uninterrupted patches of dark scaling on the forewing, while in Chionodes fuscomaculella there is yellow scaling powdered throughout the entire forewing. Note that according to Hodges' fascicle, genitalia cannot be used to separate the members of the Chionodes formosella complex. Wing coloration is used to differentiate between the species.
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.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Primarily Quercus
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Chionodes formosella. 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 formosella - Hodges#2077 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , dennepj10 , Blocky
Frequently Asked Questions About Chionodes formosella - Hodges#2077
What is Chionodes formosella - Hodges#2077?
Chionodes formosella - Hodges#2077 (Chionodes formosella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Chionodes formosella - Hodges#2077?
Chionodes formosella and Chionodes fuscomaculella can be distinguished from Chionodes bicostomaculella by the presence of yellow scaling ( Chionodes bicostomaculella is entirely grayscale). Chionodes formosella and Chionodes fuscomaculella are easily confused, but in Chionodes formosella , there are large uninterrupted patches of dark scaling on the forewing, while in Chionodes fuscomaculella there is yellow scaling powdered throughout the entire forewing. Note that according to Hodges' fascicle, genitalia cannot be used to separate the members of the Chionodes formosella complex. Wing coloration is used to differentiate between the species.
What does Chionodes formosella - Hodges#2077 eat?
The diet of the Chionodes formosella - Hodges#2077 includes Primarily Quercus.