LepidopteraGracillariidae – Leaf Blotch Miner Moths

Cremastobombycia grindeliella - Hodges#0721

Cremastobombycia grindeliella

This record describes Cremastobombycia grindeliella (species). Recorded family: Gracillariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Cremastobombycia grindeliella - Hodges#0721 - Cremastobombycia grindeliella
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

The original description as Lithocolletis grindeliella Walsingham, is available online at the link in the print references below

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Gracillarioidea
Family
Gracillariidae (Leaf Blotch Miner Moths)
Subfamily
Lithocolletinae
Genus
Cremastobombycia

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

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Central coastal California.

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Larval hosts are Grindelia sp. including Grindelia robusta .

Life History

Leaf miners.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Cremastobombycia grindeliella. 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Cremastobombycia grindeliella - Hodges#0721

What is Cremastobombycia grindeliella - Hodges#0721?

Cremastobombycia grindeliella - Hodges#0721 (Cremastobombycia grindeliella) is a species in the family Gracillariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Cremastobombycia grindeliella - Hodges#0721?

Forewing length 2.8 to 4.4 mm.

How do you identify Cremastobombycia grindeliella - Hodges#0721?

The original description as Lithocolletis grindeliella Walsingham, is available online at the link in the print references below

Where is Cremastobombycia grindeliella - Hodges#0721 found?

Range: Central coastal California.

What does Cremastobombycia grindeliella - Hodges#0721 eat?

The diet of the Cremastobombycia grindeliella - Hodges#0721 includes Larval hosts are Grindelia sp. including Grindelia robusta ..

What is the life cycle of a Cremastobombycia grindeliella - Hodges#0721?

Leaf miners.

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

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.