Dichomeris costarufoella - Hodges#2293
Dichomeris costarufoella
This record describes Dichomeris costarufoella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing dark gray to black with yellowish-brown basal patch that extends about halfway along costa as a tapering streak; median area with several small pale spots and a larger irregular-shaped spot in postmedial area; subterminal line blackish, diffuse, inconspicuous; small pale spot at costa just inside ST line; some specimens have light grayish-brown ground color, rather than dark gray; hindwing whitish or pale gray with 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
Scattered records throughout eastern North America. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) , ( 8 ) Heppner (2003) listed the range as Illinois to Florida, and Manitoba to Texas. ( 9 )
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from April to October. ( 3 ) Heppner (2003) reported adults in March, July, and October for Florida. ( 9 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner (2003) reported the larval host plant as Rudbeckia sp. (Compositae). ( 9 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Dichomeris costarufoella. 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 costarufoella - Hodges#2293 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Dichomeris costarufoella - Hodges#2293
What is Dichomeris costarufoella - Hodges#2293?
Dichomeris costarufoella - Hodges#2293 (Dichomeris costarufoella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Dichomeris costarufoella - Hodges#2293?
Wingspan about 12 mm.
How do you identify Dichomeris costarufoella - Hodges#2293?
Adult: forewing dark gray to black with yellowish-brown basal patch that extends about halfway along costa as a tapering streak; median area with several small pale spots and a larger irregular-shaped spot in postmedial area; subterminal line blackish, diffuse, inconspicuous; small pale spot at costa just inside ST line; some specimens have light grayish-brown ground color, rather than dark gray; hindwing whitish or pale gray with broad fringe along inner margin.
Where is Dichomeris costarufoella - Hodges#2293 found?
Range: Scattered records throughout eastern North America. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 6 ) , ( 7 ) , ( 8 ) Heppner (2003) listed the range as Illinois to Florida, and Manitoba to Texas. ( 9 )
What does Dichomeris costarufoella - Hodges#2293 eat?
The diet of the Dichomeris costarufoella - Hodges#2293 includes Heppner (2003) reported the larval host plant as Rudbeckia sp. (Compositae). ( 9 ).
When is Dichomeris costarufoella - Hodges#2293 active?
Dichomeris costarufoella - Hodges#2293: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from April to October. ( 3 ) Heppner (2003) reported adults in March, July, and October for Florida. ( 9 ).