LepidopteraTortricidae – Tortricid Moths

Choristoneura obsoletana - Hodges#3631

Choristoneura obsoletana

This record describes Choristoneura obsoletana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Choristoneura obsoletana - Hodges#3631 - Choristoneura obsoletana
Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Tortricoidea
Family
Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
Subfamily
Tortricinae
Tribe
Archipini
Genus
Choristoneura

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Records across the United States, most in the southeast, especially Florida. ( 5 )

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Polyphagous. ( 6 ) wild celery ( Apium graveolens ) pawpaw ( Asimina triloba ) paper birch ( Betula papyrifera ) leatherleaf ( Chamaedaphne calyculata ) West Indian milkberry ( Chiococca alba ) sericea ( Lespedeza cuneata ) black chokeberry ( Photinia melanocarpa ) Rubus, Typha, Cassia

Additional species information

Species notes from the sources

Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin obsoletus meaning "obsolete, degenerate."

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Choristoneura obsoletana. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Choristoneura obsoletana - Hodges#3631 (5)

Choristoneura obsoletana - Hodges#3631 - photo 1
Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Choristoneura obsoletana - Hodges#3631 - photo 2
Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Choristoneura obsoletana - Hodges#3631 - photo 3
Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Choristoneura obsoletana - Hodges#3631 - photo 4
Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Choristoneura obsoletana - Hodges#3631 - photo 5
Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris

Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris

Frequently Asked Questions About Choristoneura obsoletana - Hodges#3631

How big is Choristoneura obsoletana - Hodges#3631?

Wingspan about 21-24 mm. ( 5 )

Where is Choristoneura obsoletana - Hodges#3631 found?

Range: Records across the United States, most in the southeast, especially Florida. ( 5 )

What does Choristoneura obsoletana - Hodges#3631 eat?

The diet of the Choristoneura obsoletana - Hodges#3631 includes Polyphagous. ( 6 ) wild celery ( Apium graveolens ) pawpaw ( Asimina triloba ) paper birch ( Betula papyrifera ) leatherleaf ( Chamaedaphne calyculata ) West Indian milkberry ( Chiococca alba ) sericea ( Lespedeza cuneata ) black chokeberry ( Photinia melanocarpa ) Rubus, Typha, Cassia.

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.