Dichomeris copa - Hodges#2291.2
Dichomeris copa
This record describes Dichomeris copa (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing dark gray with yellowish-brown basal patch that extends about halfway along costa as a tapering streak; median area with two small pale spots and a larger irregular-shaped spot arranged in a triangle; hindwing whitish with slightly darker shading near outer margin, and broad fringe along inner margin.
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 Wyoming east to southern Ontario and Vermont, south to southern Illinois and Maryland. , Type locality: Snyder Heights, Ithaca, New York.
Seasonal Activity
Most records of adults from June through September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts include goldenrod ( Solidago , Asteraceae). ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific name copa from Latin meaning "dancing-girl."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Dichomeris copa. 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 Dichomeris copa - Hodges#2291.2 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Dichomeris copa - Hodges#2291.2
What is Dichomeris copa - Hodges#2291.2?
Dichomeris copa - Hodges#2291.2 (Dichomeris copa) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Dichomeris copa - Hodges#2291.2?
Wingspan about 15 mm.
How do you identify Dichomeris copa - Hodges#2291.2?
Adult - forewing dark gray with yellowish-brown basal patch that extends about halfway along costa as a tapering streak; median area with two small pale spots and a larger irregular-shaped spot arranged in a triangle; hindwing whitish with slightly darker shading near outer margin, and broad fringe along inner margin.
Where is Dichomeris copa - Hodges#2291.2 found?
Range: Records from Wyoming east to southern Ontario and Vermont, south to southern Illinois and Maryland. , Type locality: Snyder Heights, Ithaca, New York.
What does Dichomeris copa - Hodges#2291.2 eat?
The diet of the Dichomeris copa - Hodges#2291.2 includes Larval hosts include goldenrod ( Solidago , Asteraceae). ( 3 ).
When is Dichomeris copa - Hodges#2291.2 active?
Dichomeris copa - Hodges#2291.2: seasonal activity - Most records of adults from June through September..