Elachista orestella - Hodges#1083
Elachista orestella
This record describes Elachista orestella (species). Recorded family: Elachistidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Elachista orestella forewing is white with a black spot near the middle of the forewing and at the 2/3 of the wing. The basal 1/6 of the costa is grey. (Kaila 1997). Kaila (1997) reported the members of the genus are not often attracted to lights.
Wikipedia reference for Elachista orestella: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elachista_orestella.
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
Habitat
Elachista orestella is usually found in montane habitats.
Geographic Range
Alaska, and across all of Canada; south to Nebraska and New Jersey in the United States.
Seasonal Activity
Kaila (1997) reported April through September.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Kaila (1997) reported the whole group as grass leafminers (Poaceae).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Elachista orestella. 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 orestella - Hodges#1083 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About Elachista orestella - Hodges#1083
What is Elachista orestella - Hodges#1083?
Elachista orestella - Hodges#1083 (Elachista orestella) is a species in the family Elachistidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Elachista orestella - Hodges#1083?
Kaila (1997) listed the forewing length as 3.1 to 5.7 mm.
How do you identify Elachista orestella - Hodges#1083?
Elachista orestella forewing is white with a black spot near the middle of the forewing and at the 2/3 of the wing. The basal 1/6 of the costa is grey. (Kaila 1997).
Where is Elachista orestella - Hodges#1083 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Elachista orestella is usually found in montane habitats. |
| Range | Alaska, and across all of Canada; south to Nebraska and New Jersey in the United States. |
What does Elachista orestella - Hodges#1083 eat?
The diet of the Elachista orestella - Hodges#1083 includes Kaila (1997) reported the whole group as grass leafminers (Poaceae)..
When is Elachista orestella - Hodges#1083 active?
Elachista orestella - Hodges#1083: seasonal activity - Kaila (1997) reported April through September..