Buffy Dichomeris Moth - Hodges#2291.1
Dichomeris aleatrix
This record describes Dichomeris aleatrix (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
D. aleatrix has the posterior margin of the yellow area pointing to the anal angle and a gray edging along the middle of the costa unlike inserrata - Steve Nanz 6/25/20
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Gelechiidae (Twirler Moths)
- Subfamily
- Dichomeridinae
- Genus
- Dichomeris
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Records from southern Ontario south to Tennessee, north to Illinois. Type locality: Putnam County, Illinois.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts include hairy sunflower ( Helianthus hirsutus Raf., Asteraceae), stiff sunflower ( Helianthus pauciflorus Nutt.) and goldenrod ( Solidago , Asteraceae). ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Dichomeris aleatrix. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buffy Dichomeris Moth - Hodges#2291.1
What is Buffy Dichomeris Moth - Hodges#2291.1?
Buffy Dichomeris Moth - Hodges#2291.1 (Dichomeris aleatrix) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Buffy Dichomeris Moth - Hodges#2291.1?
~9mm TL
How do you identify Buffy Dichomeris Moth - Hodges#2291.1?
D. aleatrix has the posterior margin of the yellow area pointing to the anal angle and a gray edging along the middle of the costa unlike inserrata - Steve Nanz 6/25/20
Where is Buffy Dichomeris Moth - Hodges#2291.1 found?
Range: Records from southern Ontario south to Tennessee, north to Illinois. Type locality: Putnam County, Illinois.
What does Buffy Dichomeris Moth - Hodges#2291.1 eat?
The diet of the Buffy Dichomeris Moth - Hodges#2291.1 includes Larval hosts include hairy sunflower ( Helianthus hirsutus Raf., Asteraceae), stiff sunflower ( Helianthus pauciflorus Nutt.) and goldenrod ( Solidago , Asteraceae). ( 3 ).