Deltophora sella - Hodges#1928
Deltophora sella
This record describes Deltophora sella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Genitalia:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Anomologinae
- Genus
- Deltophora
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Records from West Texas to Florida, north to south of the Great Lakes. California. Holotype male: Pit River, Shasta County, July 1871 ( Walsingham ).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: sell, =a is Latin for a saddle or stool ( 4 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Deltophora sella. 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 Deltophora sella - Hodges#1928 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Mike Quinn; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Deltophora sella - Hodges#1928
How big is Deltophora sella - Hodges#1928?
Forewing length 5-7 mm.
How do you identify Deltophora sella - Hodges#1928?
Genitalia:
Where is Deltophora sella - Hodges#1928 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Range | Records from West Texas to Florida, north to south of the Great Lakes. California. Holotype |
| Male | Pit River, Shasta County, July 1871 ( Walsingham ). |