Chionodes thyotes - Hodges#2071.2
Chionodes thyotes
This record describes Chionodes thyotes (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The color pattern of the forewing (plate 2, figure 1) of thyotes is distinctive within the sistrella -complex: the posterior margin is pale yellow from the base to 3/5 the length, then extended obliquely to the anterior margin at 4/5 the length. A few gray scales are on this band beyond the base of the wing.
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
Known from the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Described from six specimens from Cameron and Hidalgo Cos., TX. BugGuide adds Zapata Co.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Chionodes thyotes. 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 thyotes - Hodges#2071.2 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Aaron Hunt
Frequently Asked Questions About Chionodes thyotes - Hodges#2071.2
What is Chionodes thyotes - Hodges#2071.2?
Chionodes thyotes - Hodges#2071.2 (Chionodes thyotes) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Chionodes thyotes - Hodges#2071.2?
The color pattern of the forewing (plate 2, figure 1) of thyotes is distinctive within the sistrella -complex: the posterior margin is pale yellow from the base to 3/5 the length, then extended obliquely to the anterior margin at 4/5 the length. A few gray scales are on this band beyond the base of the wing.
Where is Chionodes thyotes - Hodges#2071.2 found?
Range: Known from the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Described from six specimens from Cameron and Hidalgo Cos., TX. BugGuide adds Zapata Co.