Chionodes lactans - Hodges#2095.6
Chionodes lactans
This record describes Chionodes lactans (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Dark-gray/gray-brown forewings with pair of whitish spots at 3/4 wing length, one on anterior margin and one on posterior margin; is some specimens the spots fuse to form fascia bar. More detailed description found in MONA Fascicle 7.
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
New Jersey and North Carolina west to west-central Utah and southern Arizona
Seasonal Activity
late April to mid-July
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Chionodes lactans. 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 lactans - Hodges#2095.6 (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Chionodes lactans - Hodges#2095.6
What is Chionodes lactans - Hodges#2095.6?
Chionodes lactans - Hodges#2095.6 (Chionodes lactans) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Chionodes lactans - Hodges#2095.6?
forewing length 4-6 mm
How do you identify Chionodes lactans - Hodges#2095.6?
Dark-gray/gray-brown forewings with pair of whitish spots at 3/4 wing length, one on anterior margin and one on posterior margin; is some specimens the spots fuse to form fascia bar. More detailed description found in MONA Fascicle 7.
Where is Chionodes lactans - Hodges#2095.6 found?
Range: New Jersey and North Carolina west to west-central Utah and southern Arizona
When is Chionodes lactans - Hodges#2095.6 active?
Chionodes lactans - Hodges#2095.6: seasonal activity - late April to mid-July.