Ectoedemia similella - Hodges#0045
Ectoedemia similella
This record describes Ectoedemia similella (species). Recorded family: Nepticulidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Determined by Erik J. van Nieukerken (DNA analysis).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Nepticuloidea
- Family
- Nepticulidae
- Genus
- Ectoedemia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Ohio to Virginia, south to Texas and Florida. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
The adults are most common from May to August. Heppner 2003 has March, May, September, November for Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae host is Quercus including: (Braun), ( 5 ) Quercus palustris Münchh. (pin oak) Quercus rubra L. (northern red oak)
Life History
Larvae are leaf miners.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ectoedemia similella. 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 Ectoedemia similella - Hodges#0045 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Ectoedemia similella - Hodges#0045
What is Ectoedemia similella - Hodges#0045?
Ectoedemia similella - Hodges#0045 (Ectoedemia similella) is a species in the family Nepticulidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Ectoedemia similella - Hodges#0045?
Forewing expanse: ♂ 4.6--5.6 mm. ♀ 4.2--6 mm.
How do you identify Ectoedemia similella - Hodges#0045?
Determined by Erik J. van Nieukerken (DNA analysis).
Where is Ectoedemia similella - Hodges#0045 found?
Range: Ohio to Virginia, south to Texas and Florida. ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Ectoedemia similella - Hodges#0045 eat?
The diet of the Ectoedemia similella - Hodges#0045 includes Larvae host is Quercus including: (Braun), ( 5 ) Quercus palustris Münchh. (pin oak) Quercus rubra L. (northern red oak).
When is Ectoedemia similella - Hodges#0045 active?
Ectoedemia similella - Hodges#0045: seasonal activity - The adults are most common from May to August. Heppner 2003 has March, May, September, November for Florida..
What is the life cycle of a Ectoedemia similella - Hodges#0045?
Larvae are leaf miners.