Blue-washed Goldenrod Borer - Hodges#3189
Epiblema obfuscana
This record describes Epiblema obfuscana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Identification notes
Genitalia: ♀ ♂
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
Records from Minnesota to Maine, south to North Carolina to Oklahoma.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host is goldenrod ( Solidago , Asteraceae). ( 3 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "to darken, obscure."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Epiblema obfuscana. 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 Blue-washed Goldenrod Borer - Hodges#3189 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Abigail Parker; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy , Blocky , Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Blue-washed Goldenrod Borer - Hodges#3189
How big is Blue-washed Goldenrod Borer - Hodges#3189?
Wingspan 15-21 mm.
How do you identify Blue-washed Goldenrod Borer - Hodges#3189?
Genitalia: ♀ ♂
Where is Blue-washed Goldenrod Borer - Hodges#3189 found?
Range: Records from Minnesota to Maine, south to North Carolina to Oklahoma.
What does Blue-washed Goldenrod Borer - Hodges#3189 eat?
The diet of the Blue-washed Goldenrod Borer - Hodges#3189 includes Larval host is goldenrod ( Solidago , Asteraceae). ( 3 ).