Chionodes kincaidella - Hodges#2086
Chionodes kincaidella
This record describes Chionodes kincaidella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
A highly variable species . See original description in the print references below. The wide distribution and variation in FW color, from dark chocolate brown to rust and pattern especially in the extent of the ochreous, to nearly obliterating the brown, led to five synonyms, unusual for a western Nearctic gelechiid .
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
"Southern Alberta to southern California, including San Clemente and Santa Barbara islands, Texas, Sonora, Baja California Sur, Mexico" .
Seasonal Activity
MPG records from January to September , may be found at different times depending on locality .
Diet and Behavior
Diet: "Has been reared from Atriplex acanthocarpa in Texas by R. Hitchcock" .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Chionodes kincaidella. 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 kincaidella - Hodges#2086 (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin
Frequently Asked Questions About Chionodes kincaidella - Hodges#2086
What is Chionodes kincaidella - Hodges#2086?
Chionodes kincaidella - Hodges#2086 (Chionodes kincaidella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Chionodes kincaidella - Hodges#2086?
Forewing length: 6-11 mm .
How do you identify Chionodes kincaidella - Hodges#2086?
A highly variable species . See original description in the print references below.
Where is Chionodes kincaidella - Hodges#2086 found?
Range: Southern Alberta to southern California, including San Clemente and Santa Barbara islands, Texas, Sonora, Baja California Sur, Mexico .
What does Chionodes kincaidella - Hodges#2086 eat?
The diet of the Chionodes kincaidella - Hodges#2086 includes Has been reared from Atriplex acanthocarpa in Texas by R. Hitchcock ..
When is Chionodes kincaidella - Hodges#2086 active?
Chionodes kincaidella - Hodges#2086: seasonal activity - MPG records from January to September , may be found at different times depending on locality ..