Locust Twig Borer Moth - Hodges#3497
Ecdytolopha insiticiana
This record describes Ecdytolopha insiticiana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Grapholitini
- Genus
- Ecdytolopha
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Most records in the east but also Minnesota, Montana and west Texas. Described material: Massachusetts, ( Burgess ).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host: black locust ( Robinia pseudoacacia ) red mangrove ( Rhizophora mangle ) Wisteria
Life History
The larvae are twig or stem borers, causing an elongate gall up to 3" long. ( 3 ) Overwinter as mature larva in a cocoon among the leaves on the ground. ( 3 ) 1. gall on Black Locust seedling 2. larva inside stem 3. larva in stem 4. adult on Black Locust branch
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ecdytolopha insiticiana. 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 Locust Twig Borer Moth - Hodges#3497 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Maury Heiman , marcie oconnor , Randy Hardy , Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About Locust Twig Borer Moth - Hodges#3497
How big is Locust Twig Borer Moth - Hodges#3497?
Wingspan 20 mm.
Where is Locust Twig Borer Moth - Hodges#3497 found?
Range: Most records in the east but also Minnesota, Montana and west Texas. Described material: Massachusetts, ( Burgess ).
What does Locust Twig Borer Moth - Hodges#3497 eat?
The diet of the Locust Twig Borer Moth - Hodges#3497 includes Larval host: black locust ( Robinia pseudoacacia ) red mangrove ( Rhizophora mangle ) Wisteria.
What is the life cycle of a Locust Twig Borer Moth - Hodges#3497?
The larvae are twig or stem borers, causing an elongate gall up to 3" long. ( 3 ) Overwinter as mature larva in a cocoon among the leaves on the ground. ( 3 ) 1. gall on Black Locust seedling 2. larva inside stem 3. larva in stem 4. adult on Black Locust branch