Ellabella bayensis - Hodges#2349.1
Ellabella bayensis
This record describes Ellabella bayensis (species). Recorded family: Copromorphidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Carposinoidea
- Family
- Copromorphidae (Tropical Fruitworm Moths)
- Genus
- Ellabella
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California but possibly as far north as Josephine Co, Oregon based on host plant distribution, see Print References below.
Seasonal Activity
Flight period: January-March
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Mahonia pinnata (California barberry)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Ellabella bayensis. 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 Ellabella bayensis - Hodges#2349.1 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Steve Nanz; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Ellabella bayensis - Hodges#2349.1
How big is Ellabella bayensis - Hodges#2349.1?
Forewing length: 8.2-11.0 mm
Where is Ellabella bayensis - Hodges#2349.1 found?
Range: California but possibly as far north as Josephine Co, Oregon based on host plant distribution, see Print References below.
What does Ellabella bayensis - Hodges#2349.1 eat?
The diet of the Ellabella bayensis - Hodges#2349.1 includes Mahonia pinnata (California barberry).
When is Ellabella bayensis - Hodges#2349.1 active?
Ellabella bayensis - Hodges#2349.1: seasonal activity - Flight period: January-March.