Epiblema luctuosissima - Hodges#3174.1
Epiblema luctuosissima
This record describes Epiblema luctuosissima (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Blanchard original description as Epiblema luctuosana is available online.
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
Texas ( 5 ) to southern Colorado to Ohio. Type locality: USA: Texas, Nueces County, Padre Island National Seashore. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Main flight is July to October. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Unknown.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin luctuosissimus meaning "mournful."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Epiblema luctuosissima. 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 Epiblema luctuosissima - Hodges#3174.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Epiblema luctuosissima - Hodges#3174.1
What is Epiblema luctuosissima - Hodges#3174.1?
Epiblema luctuosissima - Hodges#3174.1 (Epiblema luctuosissima) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Epiblema luctuosissima - Hodges#3174.1?
Wingspan: ♂ 9.3-13.5 mm. ♀ 11.8-13.6
How do you identify Epiblema luctuosissima - Hodges#3174.1?
Blanchard original description as Epiblema luctuosana is available online.
Where is Epiblema luctuosissima - Hodges#3174.1 found?
Range: Texas ( 5 ) to southern Colorado to Ohio. Type locality: USA: Texas, Nueces County, Padre Island National Seashore. Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
What does Epiblema luctuosissima - Hodges#3174.1 eat?
The diet of the Epiblema luctuosissima - Hodges#3174.1 includes Unknown..
When is Epiblema luctuosissima - Hodges#3174.1 active?
Epiblema luctuosissima - Hodges#3174.1: seasonal activity - Main flight is July to October. ( 3 ).