Gray-blotched Epiblema - Hodges#3192
Epiblema carolinana
This record describes Epiblema carolinana (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
- Eucosmini
- Genus
- Epiblema
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Moth Photographers Group – distribution & flight-period chart Type locality: North Carolina ( Morrison ). Note: Powell & Opler states that any of Morrison's specimens labeled "North Carolina almost certainly originated elsewhere." Heinrich examined a specimen from New Brighton, PA ( Merrick , VIII-13-'07, reared from Rudbeckia ).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed in the flowers and bore in the stems and roots of coneflower ( Rudbeckia , Asteraceae), including cutleaf coneflower ( Rudbeckia laciniata ). ( 5 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet for the type location (North Carolina).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Epiblema carolinana. 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 Gray-blotched Epiblema - Hodges#3192 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Tony-2 , Robert Lord Zimlich , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Gray-blotched Epiblema - Hodges#3192
How big is Gray-blotched Epiblema - Hodges#3192?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | Wingspan 19-26 mm. |
| Forewing | Forewing length 8.5-11 mm. |
Where is Gray-blotched Epiblema - Hodges#3192 found?
Range: Moth Photographers Group – distribution & flight-period chart Type locality: North Carolina ( Morrison ). Note: Powell & Opler states that any of Morrison's specimens labeled North Carolina almost certainly originated elsewhere. Heinrich examined a specimen from New Brighton, PA ( Merrick , VIII-13-'07, reared from Rudbeckia ).
What does Gray-blotched Epiblema - Hodges#3192 eat?
The diet of the Gray-blotched Epiblema - Hodges#3192 includes Larvae feed in the flowers and bore in the stems and roots of coneflower ( Rudbeckia , Asteraceae), including cutleaf coneflower ( Rudbeckia laciniata ). ( 5 ).