Chionodes notandella - Hodges#2098
Chionodes notandella
This record describes Chionodes notandella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Busck description Second joint of labial palpi with large divided brush, which become gradually shorter towards apex; white strongly mottled with black and brown scales; terminal joint white with black apex. Face light fuscous, iridescent white in center. |
| Head | Head and thorax light fuscous. |
| Forewings | Forewings dark fuscous, longitudinally streaked with whitish fuscous, except on extreme tip of the wing which is unicolored, dark fuscous; just beyond the middle of the cell is a black spot and at the end of the cell is a similar spot, both are slightly edged with white scales so as to be indistinct ocellate; around the apical edge is a series of illdefined black dots. Cilia fuscous mixed with white. |
| Hindwings | Hindwings dark fuscous with lighter ochreous fuscous cilia. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen dark fuscous with two longitudinal black streaks on the under side. |
| Legs | Legs blackish fuscous with narrow ochreous annuaticns at the end of the joints. |
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
California ( 4 ) to Arizona and Wyoming. ( 5 ) Holotype ♂ San Diego, San Diego County, California,
Seasonal Activity
Powell & Opler (2009) reported the main flight is October to February with scattered records in other months. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Powell & Opler (2009) reared on Eriogonum latifolium Sm. (seaside buckwheat). ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Chionodes notandella. 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 notandella - Hodges#2098 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Chionodes notandella - Hodges#2098
What is Chionodes notandella - Hodges#2098?
Chionodes notandella - Hodges#2098 (Chionodes notandella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Chionodes notandella - Hodges#2098?
Busck listed the wingspan as 24 mm. Powell & Opler listed the forewing length 9.5-13.5 mm.
How do you identify Chionodes notandella - Hodges#2098?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Busck description Second joint of labial palpi with large divided brush, which become gradually shorter towards apex; white strongly mottled with black and brown scales; terminal joint white with black apex. Face light fuscous, iridescent white in center. |
| Head | Head and thorax light fuscous. |
| Forewings | Forewings dark fuscous, longitudinally streaked with whitish fuscous, except on extreme tip of the wing which is unicolored, dark fuscous; just beyond the middle of the cell is a black spot and at the end of the cell is a similar spot, both are slightly edged with white scales so as to be indistinct ocellate; around the apical edge is a series of illdefined black dots. Cilia fuscous mixed with white. |
| Hindwings | Hindwings dark fuscous with lighter ochreous fuscous cilia. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen dark fuscous with two longitudinal black streaks on the under side. |
| Legs | Legs blackish fuscous with narrow ochreous annuaticns at the end of the joints. |
Where is Chionodes notandella - Hodges#2098 found?
Range: California ( 4 ) to Arizona and Wyoming. ( 5 ) Holotype ♂ San Diego, San Diego County, California,
What does Chionodes notandella - Hodges#2098 eat?
The diet of the Chionodes notandella - Hodges#2098 includes Powell & Opler (2009) reared on Eriogonum latifolium Sm. (seaside buckwheat). ( 3 ).
When is Chionodes notandella - Hodges#2098 active?
Chionodes notandella - Hodges#2098: seasonal activity - Powell & Opler (2009) reported the main flight is October to February with scattered records in other months. ( 3 ).