Epinotia albicapitana - Hodges#3296
Epinotia albicapitana
This record describes Epinotia albicapitana (species). Recorded family: Tortricidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult - see original description in Print References.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Tortricoidea
- Family
- Tortricidae (Tortricid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Olethreutinae
- Tribe
- Eucosmini
- Genus
- Epinotia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California to Colorado, south to southern Arizona, with scattered records from Michigan, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. , ,
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Specific epithet from Latin meaning "white-headed."
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Epinotia albicapitana. 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 Epinotia albicapitana - Hodges#3296 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Epinotia albicapitana - Hodges#3296
What is Epinotia albicapitana - Hodges#3296?
Epinotia albicapitana - Hodges#3296 (Epinotia albicapitana) is a species in the family Tortricidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Epinotia albicapitana - Hodges#3296?
Wingspan 17-21 mm.
How do you identify Epinotia albicapitana - Hodges#3296?
Adult - see original description in Print References.
Where is Epinotia albicapitana - Hodges#3296 found?
Range: California to Colorado, south to southern Arizona, with scattered records from Michigan, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. , ,