Dichomeris isa - Hodges#2301.2
Dichomeris isa
This record describes Dichomeris isa (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - forewing dark gray or blackish with broad white stripe along costa, stopping short of apex; inner edge of stripe has 2 small oblique teeth pointing toward outer margin; fringe scales dark. Hindwing medium gray with wide fringe.
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 from Minnesota to southeastern Ontario, south to Florida, west to Oklahoma and Nebraska, and again in Arizona and California. Holotype ♂ collected in Oklahoma, Sequoyah County, Tenkiller Lake (6-9 VII 1979).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Dichomeris isa. 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 isa - Hodges#2301.2 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Dichomeris isa - Hodges#2301.2
What is Dichomeris isa - Hodges#2301.2?
Dichomeris isa - Hodges#2301.2 (Dichomeris isa) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Dichomeris isa - Hodges#2301.2?
Wingspan about 13 mm.
How do you identify Dichomeris isa - Hodges#2301.2?
Adult - forewing dark gray or blackish with broad white stripe along costa, stopping short of apex; inner edge of stripe has 2 small oblique teeth pointing toward outer margin; fringe scales dark. Hindwing medium gray with wide fringe.
Where is Dichomeris isa - Hodges#2301.2 found?
Range: Scattered records from Minnesota to southeastern Ontario, south to Florida, west to Oklahoma and Nebraska, and again in Arizona and California. Holotype ♂ collected in Oklahoma, Sequoyah County, Tenkiller Lake (6-9 VII 1979).