Dichomeris delotella - Hodges#2294
Dichomeris delotella
This record describes Dichomeris delotella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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
Southeastern California, including Santa Cruz Island, and Arizona to Sonora, Mexico. ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 3 ) Holotype collected in the Baboquivari Mountains, Pima, Arizona. ( 6 )
Seasonal Activity
Powell & Opler (2009) reported adults in Arizona from March to September and California from July to September. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host plants are thought to be Solidago and Eupatorium . ( 3 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Dichomeris delotella. 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 delotella - Hodges#2294 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Dichomeris delotella - Hodges#2294
How big is Dichomeris delotella - Hodges#2294?
Forewing length 6-8 mm. ( 3 )
Where is Dichomeris delotella - Hodges#2294 found?
Range: Southeastern California, including Santa Cruz Island, and Arizona to Sonora, Mexico. ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) , ( 3 ) Holotype collected in the Baboquivari Mountains, Pima, Arizona. ( 6 )
What does Dichomeris delotella - Hodges#2294 eat?
The diet of the Dichomeris delotella - Hodges#2294 includes Larval host plants are thought to be Solidago and Eupatorium . ( 3 ).
When is Dichomeris delotella - Hodges#2294 active?
Dichomeris delotella - Hodges#2294: seasonal activity - Powell & Opler (2009) reported adults in Arizona from March to September and California from July to September. ( 3 ).