Chionodes mariona - Hodges#2092
Chionodes mariona
This record describes Chionodes mariona (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewings glossy black with two conspicuous cream-colored spots; one, a short triangular dash on outer third of costa; the other, an irregular spot of about the same size on dorsum just beyond middle. Larva - long; slender bodied, yellowish white with a subdorsal and a lateral longitudinal row of large red blotches and a longitudinal row of smaller red spots. Type Locality: Brownsville, Cameron Co., Texas
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
se. AZ to s. TX / Mex. Map (MPG)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae are leaf folders in various mallows (Malvaceae) including pelotazo ( Abutilon incanum ) and Berlandier's Indian mallow ( Abutilon berlandieri ), as well as species of Malvastrum , Sida and Wissadula .
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Chionodes mariona (Heinrich) Orig. Comb: Telphusa mariona Heinrich, 1921 * phylogenetic sequence #063200
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Chionodes mariona. 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 mariona - Hodges#2092 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Abigail Parker; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Chionodes mariona - Hodges#2092
What is Chionodes mariona - Hodges#2092?
Chionodes mariona - Hodges#2092 (Chionodes mariona) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Chionodes mariona - Hodges#2092?
Wingspan 9-11 mm. Larva to 6.5-7 mm.
How do you identify Chionodes mariona - Hodges#2092?
Adult - forewings glossy black with two conspicuous cream-colored spots; one, a short triangular dash on outer third of costa; the other, an irregular spot of about the same size on dorsum just beyond middle. Larva - long; slender bodied, yellowish white with a subdorsal and a lateral longitudinal row of large red blotches and a longitudinal row of smaller red spots.
Where is Chionodes mariona - Hodges#2092 found?
Range: se. AZ to s. TX / Mex. Map (MPG)
What does Chionodes mariona - Hodges#2092 eat?
The diet of the Chionodes mariona - Hodges#2092 includes Larvae are leaf folders in various mallows (Malvaceae) including pelotazo ( Abutilon incanum ) and Berlandier's Indian mallow ( Abutilon berlandieri ), as well as species of Malvastrum , Sida and Wissadula ..