Depressaria cinereocostella - Hodges#0921
Depressaria cinereocostella
This record describes Depressaria cinereocostella (species). Recorded family: Depressariidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Similar to Depressaria radiella but: Side-by-side the moths are fairly easy to separate. Depressaria cinereocostella is much smaller and has conspicuous silvery-gray scaling, esp. along the costa (hence the name) as well as the head/thorax. But images can be tricky, esp. if the moth is worn. Depressaria cinereocostella is an infrequently reported species in most areas. In WI I have it from many counties across the southern 2/3 of the state, but it is noticeably most common in the Driftless Area. Adults come to light and bait, plus can be found hibernating under bark in mid-winter. Comments by Kyle Johnson
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Depressariidae
- Subfamily
- Depressariinae
- Genus
- Depressaria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Honewort ( Cryptotaenia canadensis ) - MJ Hatfield ; Caraway ( Carum carvi ), Spotted Water-hemlock ( Cicuta maculata ), Scotch Wild Lovage ( Ligusticum scoticum ), Cowbane ( Oxypolis rigidior ), Water Parsnip ( Sium suave ) - ( Mass Moths )
Life History
Larva, larva, adult, spent pupa
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Depressaria cinereocostella Clemens, 1864
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Depressaria cinereocostella. 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 Depressaria cinereocostella - Hodges#0921 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Aaron Hunt; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , marcie oconnor , Dave Webb
Frequently Asked Questions About Depressaria cinereocostella - Hodges#0921
What is Depressaria cinereocostella - Hodges#0921?
Depressaria cinereocostella - Hodges#0921 (Depressaria cinereocostella) is a species in the family Depressariidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Depressaria cinereocostella - Hodges#0921?
Similar to Depressaria radiella but: Side-by-side the moths are fairly easy to separate. Depressaria cinereocostella is much smaller and has conspicuous silvery-gray scaling, esp. along the costa (hence the name) as well as the head/thorax. But images can be tricky, esp. if the moth is worn. Depressaria cinereocostella is an infrequently reported species in most areas. In WI I have it from many counties across the southern 2/3 of the state, but it is noticeably most common in the Driftless Area. Adults come to light and bait, plus can be found hibernating under bark in mid-winter. Comments by Kyle Johnson
What does Depressaria cinereocostella - Hodges#0921 eat?
The diet of the Depressaria cinereocostella - Hodges#0921 includes Honewort ( Cryptotaenia canadensis ) - MJ Hatfield ; Caraway ( Carum carvi ), Spotted Water-hemlock ( Cicuta maculata ), Scotch Wild Lovage ( Ligusticum scoticum ), Cowbane ( Oxypolis rigidior ), Water Parsnip ( Sium suave ) - ( Mass Moths ).
What is the life cycle of a Depressaria cinereocostella - Hodges#0921?
Larva, larva, adult, spent pupa