Epiblema sosana - Hodges#3180
Epiblema sosana
This record describes Epiblema sosana (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
Widespread in the Great Basin, Utah to eastern California, with a pale, almost white, form with pale grey markings in the sand dunes of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. ( 5 ) Types: Stockton, UT (Spalding ( 5 ) , May 23d-Aug 2d).
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Goeden & Ricker (1975) reared them on flatspine bur ragweed ( Ambrosia acanthicarpa ), and "probable Epiblema sosana " on silver bur ragweed ( Ambrosia chamissonis ) and weakleaf bur ragweed ( Ambrosia confertiflora ) in southern California. ( 5 ) , ( 6 )
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet is part of a series of Kearfott names originating from various alphabetical rhyming schemes with no meaning, often derided by subsequent authors as "nonsense names." See Brown for a humorous take on this "barbarous" practice. ,
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Epiblema sosana. 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 sosana - Hodges#3180 (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Kyhl Austin; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Epiblema sosana - Hodges#3180
How big is Epiblema sosana - Hodges#3180?
Wingspan 15-20 mm. ,
Where is Epiblema sosana - Hodges#3180 found?
Range: Widespread in the Great Basin, Utah to eastern California, with a pale, almost white, form with pale grey markings in the sand dunes of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. ( 5 ) Types: Stockton, UT (Spalding ( 5 ) , May 23d-Aug 2d).
What does Epiblema sosana - Hodges#3180 eat?
The diet of the Epiblema sosana - Hodges#3180 includes Goeden & Ricker (1975) reared them on flatspine bur ragweed ( Ambrosia acanthicarpa ), and probable Epiblema sosana on silver bur ragweed ( Ambrosia chamissonis ) and weakleaf bur ragweed ( Ambrosia confertiflora ) in southern California. ( 5 ) , ( 6 ).