Elachista epimicta - Hodges#1081
Elachista epimicta
This record describes Elachista epimicta (species). Recorded family: Elachistidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Decription of Elachista epimicta Braun, is available online in the print references. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Gelechioidea
- Family
- Elachistidae (Grass Miner Moths)
- Subfamily
- Elachistinae
- Genus
- Elachista
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Moth Photographers Group - large map with some collection dates.
Seasonal Activity
The flight period appears to be May through August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts include: Eastern bottlebrush grass, Hystrix patula Rye, Elymus sp.
Life History
Larva are leaf miners.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Elachista epimicta. 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 Elachista epimicta - Hodges#1081 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Elachista epimicta - Hodges#1081
What is Elachista epimicta - Hodges#1081?
Elachista epimicta - Hodges#1081 (Elachista epimicta) is a species in the family Elachistidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Elachista epimicta - Hodges#1081?
Forewling length 4.6-7.1 mm.
How do you identify Elachista epimicta - Hodges#1081?
Decription of Elachista epimicta Braun, is available online in the print references. Specimen identified by DNA analysis (BOLD).
Where is Elachista epimicta - Hodges#1081 found?
Range: Moth Photographers Group - large map with some collection dates.
What does Elachista epimicta - Hodges#1081 eat?
The diet of the Elachista epimicta - Hodges#1081 includes Larval hosts include: Eastern bottlebrush grass, Hystrix patula Rye, Elymus sp..
When is Elachista epimicta - Hodges#1081 active?
Elachista epimicta - Hodges#1081: seasonal activity - The flight period appears to be May through August..
What is the life cycle of a Elachista epimicta - Hodges#1081?
Larva are leaf miners.