Coleotechnites atrupictella - Hodges#1792
Coleotechnites atrupictella
This record describes Coleotechnites atrupictella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing whitish with black trapezoidal patch halfway along costa, partially filled with ground color; AM line black, diffuse, angles backward (distally) from costa to inner margin; legs dark with several white bands Genitalia: ♀ ♂ Larva: head greenish-brown, unmarked; body reddish with creamy white dorsolateral and lateral stripes, and creamy white lateral markings
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Gelechiinae
- Tribe
- Litini
- Genus
- Coleotechnites
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
coniferous and mixed forests
Geographic Range
Newfoundland to British Columbia and northern United States; type specimen collected in Hazleton, Pennsylvania
Seasonal Activity
The flight period appears to be April to September. larvae present in June and July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on leaves of conifers: Black Spruce, Engelmann Spruce, Red Spruce, White Spruce, Lodgepole Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Shore Pine, Western Hemlock, Douglas-fir, Subalpine Fir
Life History
overwinters as an egg; one generation per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Coleotechnites atrupictella. 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 Coleotechnites atrupictella - Hodges#1792 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , Maury Heiman , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Coleotechnites atrupictella - Hodges#1792
What is Coleotechnites atrupictella - Hodges#1792?
Coleotechnites atrupictella - Hodges#1792 (Coleotechnites atrupictella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Coleotechnites atrupictella - Hodges#1792?
larva length to 12 mm
How do you identify Coleotechnites atrupictella - Hodges#1792?
Adult: forewing whitish with black trapezoidal patch halfway along costa, partially filled with ground color; AM line black, diffuse, angles backward (distally) from costa to inner margin; legs dark with several white bands Genitalia: ♀ ♂ Larva: head greenish-brown, unmarked; body reddish with creamy white dorsolateral and lateral stripes, and creamy white lateral markings
Where is Coleotechnites atrupictella - Hodges#1792 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | coniferous and mixed forests |
| Range | Newfoundland to British Columbia and northern United States; type specimen collected in Hazleton, Pennsylvania |
What does Coleotechnites atrupictella - Hodges#1792 eat?
The diet of the Coleotechnites atrupictella - Hodges#1792 includes larvae feed on leaves of conifers: Black Spruce, Engelmann Spruce, Red Spruce, White Spruce, Lodgepole Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Shore Pine, Western Hemlock, Douglas-fir, Subalpine Fir.
When is Coleotechnites atrupictella - Hodges#1792 active?
Coleotechnites atrupictella - Hodges#1792: seasonal activity - The flight period appears to be April to September. larvae present in June and July.
What is the life cycle of a Coleotechnites atrupictella - Hodges#1792?
overwinters as an egg; one generation per year