Dichomeris juncidella - Hodges#2298
Dichomeris juncidella
This record describes Dichomeris juncidella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Genitalia:
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 Wisconsin east to southern Quebec and Maine, south to Florida, west to Louisiana and Oklahoma.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae are leaf folders, hosts include: ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) annual ragweed , Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (Asteraceae) great ragweed , Ambrosia trifida L. (Asteraceae) threetip sagebrush , Artemisia tripartite Rydb. (Asteraceae) Jerusalem artichoke , Helianthus tuberosus L. (Asteraceae) goldenrod, Solidago (Asteraceae) devil's walkingstick , Aralia spinosa L. (Araliaceae)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Dichomeris juncidella. 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 juncidella - Hodges#2298 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Tony-2 , Randy Hardy , Blocky , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Dichomeris juncidella - Hodges#2298
How do you identify Dichomeris juncidella - Hodges#2298?
Genitalia:
Where is Dichomeris juncidella - Hodges#2298 found?
Range: Records from Wisconsin east to southern Quebec and Maine, south to Florida, west to Louisiana and Oklahoma.
What does Dichomeris juncidella - Hodges#2298 eat?
The diet of the Dichomeris juncidella - Hodges#2298 includes Larvae are leaf folders, hosts include: ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) annual ragweed , Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (Asteraceae) great ragweed , Ambrosia trifida L. (Asteraceae) threetip sagebrush , Artemisia tripartite Rydb. (Asteraceae) Jerusalem artichoke , Helianthus tuberosus L. (Asteraceae) goldenrod, Solidago (Asteraceae) devil's walkingstick , Aralia spinosa L. (Araliaceae).