Dichomeris setosella - Hodges#2302
Dichomeris setosella
This record describes Dichomeris setosella (species). Recorded family: Gelechiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Mark Dreiling’s specimen DNA supported to species Dichomeris setosella Larva - Greenish white. See Chambers (1972) under Ypsolophus eupatoriella in Print References.
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
New England to Florida and west to Manitoba, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts include: (Chambers, 1872) ( 3 ) white snakeroot ( Ageratina altissima var. angustata , Asteraceae) sweetscent ( Pluchea odorata ) white crownbeard ( Verbesina virginica L.) ironweed ( Vernonia Schreb.) eastern white pine ( Pinus strobus L., Pinaceae) arborvitae ( Thuja occidentalis L., Cupressaceae)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Dichomeris setosella. 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 setosella - Hodges#2302 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Charley Eiseman; Additional contributions by Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy , Blocky , Steve Morris
Frequently Asked Questions About Dichomeris setosella - Hodges#2302
What is Dichomeris setosella - Hodges#2302?
Dichomeris setosella - Hodges#2302 (Dichomeris setosella) is a species in the family Gelechiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Dichomeris setosella - Hodges#2302?
Larva to about 13 mm (Chambers, 1972).
How do you identify Dichomeris setosella - Hodges#2302?
Mark Dreiling’s specimen DNA supported to species Dichomeris setosella Larva - Greenish white. See Chambers (1972) under Ypsolophus eupatoriella in Print References.
Where is Dichomeris setosella - Hodges#2302 found?
Range: New England to Florida and west to Manitoba, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
What does Dichomeris setosella - Hodges#2302 eat?
The diet of the Dichomeris setosella - Hodges#2302 includes Larval hosts include: (Chambers, 1872) ( 3 ) white snakeroot ( Ageratina altissima var. angustata , Asteraceae) sweetscent ( Pluchea odorata ) white crownbeard ( Verbesina virginica L.) ironweed ( Vernonia Schreb.) eastern white pine ( Pinus strobus L., Pinaceae) arborvitae ( Thuja occidentalis L., Cupressaceae).